NEW DELHI: The Omesh Saigal Committee set up by the Union Home Ministry to take a close look at the working of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi is unlikely to recommend a Mayor-in-Council set-up for Delhi. Instead, according to highly placed sources, it is expected to recommend empowering the wards, zones, elected representatives, enhance penalty schedule and bring the civic body under the Delhi Government.

Sources said the Committee that was to have submitted its report by July 15 would now do it by August 7. "I will focus on decentralisation, empowerment of the people, restructuring of the present set-up and other related issue. I will not disclose anything else. I want to do a comprehensive exercise so that not only the problems of the present are sorted out but also the future including addition of a huge population is taken care of,'' Mr. Saigal informed.

Asked if the present MCD would be split into smaller bodies, Mr. Saigal said his report would be comprehensive and address all issues to prevent further erosion of authority and avoid any chaos in the Capital.

However, sources informed that the Committee is working on the concept of empowering the MCD including decentralisation and not splitting it into smaller bodies as this would only lead to further chaos in the Capital and make the proposed set-up financially unviable. Another major point that has reportedly found favour with the Committee is that the MCD should be brought under the jurisdiction of the Delhi Government and its control by the Ministry of Home Affairs should go once and for all.

In addition, sources said, the Committee could recommend setting up and empowering of zonal committees with the zonal commissioners heading such committees for the sake of decentralisation and quick decision-making. There is also a move to make the Councillors more powerful and accountable to the people by setting up of ward sabhas where eminent people of the area would find themselves placed to run the day-to-day affairs of the Corporation including approval of area developmental projects. These sabhas would be headed by the area Councillor and hold regular consultations on various issues.

Advocating a firm and strong penal regime to check the rampant unauthorised constructions in the Capital, it is learnt the Committee is likely to recommend stiff penalty that should be revenue oriented in order to make the Corporation financially viable.

Disapproving of the idea of setting up a Mayor-in-Council as demanded by many elected representatives and political parties, the Committee has cited creation of another parallel administration as the reason for such rejection. Delhi is already having a Central Government, Delhi Government and MCD. To have a Mayor-in-Council would lead to creation of another parallel administration that would clash with the present and that is why the idea has not found favour with the Committee, sources said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail