E-Paper
Capital mess
If the term wasn?t so ironic when applied to a city like Delhi, the governmental authorities seem to be leading its citizens up the garden path.
If the term wasn’t so ironic when applied to a city like Delhi, the governmental authorities seem to be leading its citizens up the garden path. As much hot air is being expended on turning the nation’s capital into a thriving world-class megalopolis by the time the 2010 Commonwealth Games is upon us as the amount of cold water that is being poured on such a happy reverie. First, Delhiites were witness to a demolition drive that saw ‘high profile’ illegal constructions being bulldozed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. This was quickly followed by an outcry from traders who had, with the help of the same MCD and the existing governments, set up shops illegally. Fearing a revolt of the bribe-givers — a healthy and identifiable vote bank — the erstwhile bribe-takers decided that the best thing to do was befuddle the rest of the citizenry and do nothing while stating that it will do something. Fortunately, the Supreme Court saw through these shenanigans and ordered that the MCD continue its ‘good’ work of fixing past damages.
Next came what was tom-tommed as the ‘compromise formula’ — a delaying tactic dressed up as a stock-taking procedure — Parliament approved a bill that would stall demolitions for a year. Effectively, this was a move to regularise illegal construction in Delhi and ensure that there would be no brakes in the process of allowing the city to grow as it pleases — a hodge-podge mixture of kirana shops, workshops, godowns and showrooms, interspersed with some living areas. Now, coincidentally, the passage of the legislation comes with a report that a panel headed by the former Lt. Governor of Delhi, Tejinder Khanna, has submitted. The report moots a new plan for the city’s colonies, unauthorised constructions and mixed-land use.
The problem is that too many red herrings are being dangled by the authorities. All that it really takes to save Delhi is to punish the guilty — both those who flouted the law and those who let it be flouted — and ‘reward’ those who played it by the rules. Delhi’s politicians have to decide whether they want to stop the rot or play to the gallery of a huddle of lawbreakers. An omelette can’t be made without breaking a few eggs. And if Delhi is not to have egg on its sprawling face tomorrow, something must be done today.
