New Delhi: A week after Chief Minister
Sheila Dikshit sought trifurcation of the BJP-ruled MCD, the
Centre has held that the Delhi government has powers to go
ahead with the proposal for division of the civic body.
"The Chief Minister of Delhi had sought enhanced
delegation of powers over a year-and a-half-ago and these
powers have been delegated to the Delhi government. So the
trifurcation or whatever she (Dikshit) is doing is part of
the powers that have been delegated to her," Union Home
Secretary Pillai said in an interaction.
Critical of MCD`s functioning under the BJP, the Delhi
government last Monday had set up a high-powered committee to
examine possible division of the civic body into a number of
"workable units" to enhance its performance.
The five-member committee headed by Delhi Finance
Minister AK Walia will look into the ambit of the functioning
of MCD and recommend a set of feasible suggestions to overcome
the hassles coming in the way of proper delivery of services.
Dikshit, who severely criticised MCD`s functioning,
had said the government wants the division of the civic body
into a number of smaller units so that it could serve the
people better.
"We are looking at a more efficiently-run MCD. 97 per
cent of the areas in the city come under MCD. It is not just
capable of carrying the burden. Its funds are in a mess. The
entire system is run on ad-hocism," Dikshit had said.
Slamming the move to trifurcate the MCD, Opposition
BJP accused Dikshit of "systematically" weakening MCD and said
it was exploring legal options to challenge various decisions
of the Delhi government in taking away "constitutional powers"
of the civic body.
The Union Home Ministry had delegated some of its
powers relating to the MCD to the Delhi government following
persistent demand by Dikshit to have greater say over the
civic body.
Citing multiplicity of authorities as a major
bottleneck for carrying out developmental activities in the
city, Dikshit had in fact sought complete authority over the
civic body by the government.
However, the Centre did not concede to the demand and
delegated some powers only to the city Government.
PTI
