Gurgaon MP suggests separate development authority for 13 Haryana districts

Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh suggested a NCR development authority for the NCR subregion that includes 13 Haryana districts.

Union minister of state for planning and Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh on Thursday suggested a National Capital Region Development Authority (NCRDA) for the development of the NCR subregion of Haryana that includes 13 districts.

In a symposium ‘Does Gurgaon need a development authority’ organised by HIPA, the participants came up with a number of recommendations. (Abhinav Saha/HT Photo)

Speaking at a symposium at HIPA, Singh said that while a Gurgaon Development Authority (GDA) was necessary for the development of the area, NCRDA can be formed for comprehensive development of the region. He said the NCRDA can include Gurgaon and others areas such as Faridabad, Mewat, Rewari, Mahendergarh, Rohtak, and Jhajjar.

His statement has come at a time when demand for the GDA formation has picked up pace and Haryana PWD and forest minister Rao Narbir Singh assured formation of the GDA within three years.

The Haryana subregion includes Gurgaon, Faridabad, Mewat, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Karnal, Jind, Mahendergarh, Panipat, Palwal, Rewari, Rohtak and Sonepat.

“How can people sitting in Chandigarh decide what happens in Gurgaon?” he asked while stressing the need for a stronger local authority.

Singh, who was earlier a member of the Congress, was one of the political leaders who raised the demand for GDA during the previous Congress government in Haryana.

Political observers, however, read a political motive behind Inderjit’s demand for NCRDA as this will boost his political stature at the state level. The state has 21 districts and 13 of those are included in the NCR.

“If the demand for NCRDA materialises, this will project Singh as a state level leader. Now, as the credit game for GDA has started, Singh has thrown out a bigger idea,” a senior BJP leader, who did not wish to be named, said.

Addressing a public rally at Badshahpur on April 10, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had announced that the state government will try to constitute GDA through a bill in the assembly after addressing legal objections.