CLP agrees to take over MCD

The Congress Legislative Party meeting on Monday unanimously supported the Delhi government’s bid to take control of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. HT Correspondent reports.

The Congress Legislative Party meeting on Monday unanimously supported the Delhi government’s bid to take control of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

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Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had been raising this issue for the last several months – stating that this was required to end the multiplicity of authorities in the city and induce some responsiveness in civic services.

“Everybody felt that the MCD should report to the Delhi government, as it does in all other states,” she said.

Some MLAs also demanded an increase in perks and salary, claiming that their pay structures were among the lowest. “They were referring to the Sixth Pay Commission. Perhaps some of them did not know it did not apply to them,” said a party source.

But Dikshit refused to budge. “There was some talk about increasing the MLA fund from Rs 2 crore. We will study that, but then the hike may happen only next year,” said Dikshit.

MLAs, on the other hand, protested that MCD corporators get paid Rs 2 crore for works in one ward, while they had to make do with the same amount for an area roughly the equal of four wards.