MCD passes delay buck to other agencies

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Thursday claimed that arbitrary road digging by various authorities was hampering its work, including Commonwealth Games-linked projects, and warned of criminal proceedings against such agencies. HT reports.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Thursday claimed that arbitrary road digging by various authorities was hampering its work, including Commonwealth Games-linked projects, and warned of criminal proceedings against such agencies.

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On Wednesday, the Delhi government had directed the MCD to finish all road-digging work by August 20.

"We will file criminal cases against agencies that are digging roads illegally, without permission and without submitting the required revenue money to us," said Jagdish Mamgain, chairman of MCD’s Works Committee.

The civic body had been complaining that digging of roads by agencies such as MTNL and NDPL to lay cables was hampering their work.

Mamgain said they faced this problem while working on road-widening and other projects near some Games venues.

"The agencies generally dig the roads on Saturdays and Sundays when the MCD officials are not present," he said.

At a meeting with the engineering department, he directed that the MCD Planning Department should notify new rates for procurment of materials by MCD project contractors within a week.

"The rates for material have not been revised for several years though prices have increased. This has led to contractors leaving the work midway due to financial difficulties," he said.