‘We want total control’

The Delhi cabinet on Tuesday unanimously decided to go to the Centre with the demand for full control over the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

The Delhi cabinet on Tuesday unanimously decided to go to the Centre with the demand for full control over the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

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Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and her council of ministers were unhappy over the limited powers handed over to the state government by the Centre, basically a transfer of 17 clauses delegated to the Lieutenant Governor.

Of the powers given to Delhi government, a number require prior clearance from the Centre.

Delhi government sources said the council of ministers was unwilling to assume more responsibility without clear-cut control over the civic body.

“Whatever they have offered us is a very fragmented thing and we become responsible for everything in Delhi. You don’t have any powers, you have to take permission (from Centre) for everything,” said a Delhi minister, on condition of anonymity.

“Everywhere else the municipal body reports to the state government.”

A detailed note prepared by the Urban Development department was now being dispatched to the Union Home Ministry, citing Delhi government's dissatisfaction with the powers.

The Delhi government had proposed that the necessity to have Centre's approval for Section 3 (A) (division of Delhi into zones), Section 2 (delimitation of wards), Section 54 (appointment of MCD Commissioner), Section 349 (framing of building regulations) and Section 490 (dissolution of corporation) be done away with.

Powers like framing of byelaws, vesting powers to transfer public streets to another civic authority, acquisition of immovable property on the request of the commissioner, specify corrupt practices and power to make rules regulating the elections of councillors were dropped in the final proposal.