The Hindu : New Delhi News : Saigal Committee opposes MCD split

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Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006
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New Delhi

Saigal Committee opposes MCD split

Sujay Mehdudia

Suggests restructuring with a three-tier system

NEW DELHI: Opposing a split of the present Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Omesh Saigal Committee has recommended total restructuring of the civic body with the introduction of a three-tier system comprising Ward Sabha, Janpad and Nagar Nigam. It has also suggested a "heavy penalty" regime for various offences including civic ones and those relating to unauthorised constructions and illegal activity.

The Committee has rejected the idea of Mayor-in-Council as demanded by a large section of the elected representatives and instead recommended setting up of an all-powerful Mayor's Committee to run the affairs of the Corporation.

The Committee also did not go along with the view of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for splitting the Corporation into three parts and instead focused on a road map for decentralisation of the civic body and empowering the zones, which have been re-named "janpads" under the proposed new regime.

Instead of one Municipal Commissioner as in the present set-up, the Committee has suggested 11 Janpads to be headed by a full time Municipal Commissioner having both administrative and financial powers presently vested in the MCD Commissioner. The proposed Janpads would have powers to collect and return taxes but not have powers to make or amend by-laws, make policy decisions or issue policy directions. The Saigal Committee was set up by the Union Home Ministry on April 26 to study the restructuring of the MCD and suggest a suitable structure. It was to submit its report on July 15 but finally submitted it to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Tuesday evening.

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