Councillors say MCD split will only delay civic work

In a fresh protest against the splitting up of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), municipal councillors have raised apprehension claiming that the trifurcation will act as "an obstacle" in getting civic problems addressed.

In a fresh protest against the splitting up of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), municipal councillors have raised apprehension claiming that the trifurcation will act as "an obstacle" in getting civic problems addressed.

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Councillors said under the proposed set up the commissioner and chief commissioner would be answerable to the Delhi chief minister only. At present the commissioner is answerable to the Mayor and MCD Standing Committee.

"The three corporations will not be able to exercise any power or control over the executive wing led by the municipal commissioner," said Subhash Arya, leader of the MCD House.

Both BJP and Congress councillors said when officers in the new set up wouldn't be answerable to the elected representatives, it will be difficult for them to get civic work done in their respective areas.

"Even in the present system, elected representatives find it difficult to get any work done; we have to make several rounds of offices. One can only imagine the situation when they won't be answerable to the elected representatives," added Arya.

The councillors added that the proposed corporations will not be "financially viable", as each will have its own tax rate.
"There will be no equal distribution of sources of income such as property tax, toll tax, parking, advertisements, licences, etc., throughout the city. It will lead to serious imbalances," said Yogender Chandolia, chairman of the Standing Committee of the MCD.

Congress councillors, too, have questioned the Delhi government's move.

"The functioning of the MCD will become much more difficult. Revenue generation is the least in east Delhi. How will the corporation run effective without funds? Moreover, there will be no parity in house tax and toll tax rates, as all three corporations will charge different rates," said Congress councillor Farhad Suri.