Municipal corp not ready to share powers with state

Disgruntled over the Centre’s proposal for Delhi government to take over certain powers entrusted to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the BJP on Tuesday formed a three-member committee to come up with a plan of action to fight it in a “democratic way.”, reports HT Correspondent.

Disgruntled over the Centre’s proposal for Delhi government to take over certain powers entrusted to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the BJP on Tuesday formed a three-member committee to come up with a plan of action to fight it in a “democratic way.”

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The BJP also demanded that the DMC Act, 1957 (Amendment 1993) should be retained as it is.

“Sarkar apni vifaltaon ko chchipane ke liye hum par tohmat lagati hai (The (Delhi) government is blaming us to hide its own failures),” said BJP leader Subhash Arya.

Arya, who is also the Leader of the House in the MCD said the proposal, which the Union Home Ministry has sent to the Delhi government for taking over certain powers presently entrusted to the MCD in the DMC Act 1957, is “half-baked.”

Emphasising the Delhi government wanted to “interfere” in MCD’s day-to-day matters, Arya said the Centre’s proposal entails giving power to the Delhi government in respect of only 19 out of 512 sections.

“The power in respect of four fundamental additional sections can be exercised through the approval of the Central government only. This is in keeping with present powers.”

These powers relate to dissolution of the Corporation (Section 490), power to make by-laws (Section 349 A), appointment, etc of the Commissioner (Section 54) and division of Delhi into Zones (Section 3 A),” said Arya.

The BJP leader demanded the four sections be retained and remaining 19 sections be also not given to Delhi.