The Hindu : New Delhi News : ‘Government losing Rs. 3 crore daily due to circle rate impasse'

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Saturday, Nov 27, 2010
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‘Government losing Rs. 3 crore daily due to circle rate impasse'

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

The legitimate power of the elected government is being eroded: Sheila Dikshit

‘The powers of the Government and the L-G should be well defined'
‘The L-G should have called us to discuss the issue'

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Government is losing over Rs. 3 crore per day due to impasse on the circle rates issue and its objection is that the legitimate power of the elected government is being eroded and vetoed on a day-to-day basis, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said here on Friday.

Ms. Dikshit also denied the charge of Leader of Opposition V.K. Malhotra that there has been a constitutional breakdown in Delhi because of which she had vent her ire against Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna.

Speaking in the House after the BJP members were expelled, Ms. Dikshit said the impasse can be resolved if the powers of the Government and the L-G are well defined. “When we spoke yesterday, it was with a heavy heart. The issue is that the Government is losing over Rs.3 crore daily and who will bear this cost?”

NDA Govt. order

Later addressing the media, she said the root of problem was an NDA Government order issued in 2002 stating that ‘the Government of Delhi means the Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi'.

“Ultimately democracy prevails and our answerability to the people is important since they look up to us for solutions and answers,” she said, adding that her Government has written to the Centre for denotification of the 2002 order.

Ms. Dikshit said in the past too the Delhi Government has often raised the matter with the Centre. Because of this order, she said, “hurdles are put in our way and things become time consuming”.

On why she chose to raise the issue in the House, the Chief Minister said, “I went to the House and it was in session. So we decided to raise the issue.”

The Lieutenant-Governor has already returned the Cabinet decision twice. “The Lieutenant-Governor could have called us to discuss the issue.”

Ms. Dikshit reiterated that her government had not called for the withdrawal of Mr. Khanna. “We are not against an individual but against a system.”

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