‘Govt is sitting on our rightful shares’
25 Jun 2012 7:41 AM GMT
Meera Aggarwal, Mayor of North Delhi Municipal Corporation [NDMC], considers ‘apathy’ as the root cause of all the major problems the city is facing.
‘People living in Delhi want the best of living conditions, job opportunities and civic amenities, but no one in the city is ready to accept it as their city. A city can prosper and develop only when its residents consider it their home and work for it, but the most unfortunate thing with Delhi is that Delhiites always trace their roots to their origin and love to connect with their own groups,’ she says.
However, she is hopeful that young generation born and brought up in Delhi would love to be called ‘Delhiwala’ and consider the city as their own. In an interview with Siddheshwar Shukla she shares her views on several sociopolitical issues of the city. Excerpts:
What are the major challenges before NDMC?
The biggest challenge we are facing today is financial crisis. Delhi government is sitting on our rightful shares of transfer duty, contractors’ liability and budget deficit. Transfer duty is paid on monthly basis, but it has not been paid since last six months. The global share has not been finalised as finance commission could not submit its report due to non-cooperation of Delhi government. They have provided us loan instead of grants-in-aid.
What problems you are facing due to non-disbursement of funds?
There is acute shortage of staff at all levels. Several situations are vacant at officer level, thousands of sanitary workers, gardener, and school teachers are required for proper running of the system. The contractors have stopped work due to non-payment of their bills and are not coming forward to take up new projects.
What effort are you making to solve it?
We are regularly following the government to disburse the dues at the earliest. NDMC has also passed a resolution to convert its loan amount into grants-in-aid. We have also demanded the government to cooperate with finance commission to get its report finalised.
Several sources of revenue of NDMC are untapped. Around 50 per cent property owners in its area are not paying property tax. What effort is being made to increase the revenue of NDMC?
We will soon hire an independent agency for survey of properties and bring them in tax net. Further, we are planning malls in the place of old shopping centres. The empty lands in the area will also be used judiciously to increase revenue, but it needs the support of the government at initial level.
What are the major issues NDMC is facing in its area?
Sanitation, cleaning of water less urinals, maintenance of parks and schools are the major issues here. NDMC is the biggest corporation in Delhi in terms of area and population we need more staff to serve the people better.
What are you planning to increase the standard of teaching in schools?
A renovation drive is being conducted in corporation schools in the area. We are providing free books, cash for uniforms and mid-day meal in schools. But I think their parents and guardians need to be a little bit sensitive towards their education. It’s not justified to compare them with the private schools where parents spend a lot of time, money and care to their children.
How did you enter politics?
My father Lala Ram Vilas Gupta was a freedom fighter and eminent politician in the city. Since my childhood, I used to recite patriotic poems with my father. My first public appearance was at the age of 16 when I recited some poems and songs from the stage to inspire a post-emergency gathering in Delhi in 1977. During graduation in Hindu College, I was elected joint secretary.
My second innings in politics started in 1993 as president of Delhi Mahila Morcha and held various positions in party and unified MCD. I became councillor for the fourth consecutive time from Sawan Park Ward 66.
What is your dream project for NDMC as Mayor?
A medical college in the area. The proposal has already been passed by Standing Committee and Delhi government and is pending with union ministry of urban development. We hope we could start from next academic session.
Any dream project for your own constituency?
Presently, I am focussing on better sanitation, maintenance of parks, community centres and roads in my constituency.
‘People living in Delhi want the best of living conditions, job opportunities and civic amenities, but no one in the city is ready to accept it as their city. A city can prosper and develop only when its residents consider it their home and work for it, but the most unfortunate thing with Delhi is that Delhiites always trace their roots to their origin and love to connect with their own groups,’ she says.
However, she is hopeful that young generation born and brought up in Delhi would love to be called ‘Delhiwala’ and consider the city as their own. In an interview with Siddheshwar Shukla she shares her views on several sociopolitical issues of the city. Excerpts:
What are the major challenges before NDMC?
The biggest challenge we are facing today is financial crisis. Delhi government is sitting on our rightful shares of transfer duty, contractors’ liability and budget deficit. Transfer duty is paid on monthly basis, but it has not been paid since last six months. The global share has not been finalised as finance commission could not submit its report due to non-cooperation of Delhi government. They have provided us loan instead of grants-in-aid.
What problems you are facing due to non-disbursement of funds?
There is acute shortage of staff at all levels. Several situations are vacant at officer level, thousands of sanitary workers, gardener, and school teachers are required for proper running of the system. The contractors have stopped work due to non-payment of their bills and are not coming forward to take up new projects.
What effort are you making to solve it?
We are regularly following the government to disburse the dues at the earliest. NDMC has also passed a resolution to convert its loan amount into grants-in-aid. We have also demanded the government to cooperate with finance commission to get its report finalised.
Several sources of revenue of NDMC are untapped. Around 50 per cent property owners in its area are not paying property tax. What effort is being made to increase the revenue of NDMC?
We will soon hire an independent agency for survey of properties and bring them in tax net. Further, we are planning malls in the place of old shopping centres. The empty lands in the area will also be used judiciously to increase revenue, but it needs the support of the government at initial level.
What are the major issues NDMC is facing in its area?
Sanitation, cleaning of water less urinals, maintenance of parks and schools are the major issues here. NDMC is the biggest corporation in Delhi in terms of area and population we need more staff to serve the people better.
What are you planning to increase the standard of teaching in schools?
A renovation drive is being conducted in corporation schools in the area. We are providing free books, cash for uniforms and mid-day meal in schools. But I think their parents and guardians need to be a little bit sensitive towards their education. It’s not justified to compare them with the private schools where parents spend a lot of time, money and care to their children.
How did you enter politics?
My father Lala Ram Vilas Gupta was a freedom fighter and eminent politician in the city. Since my childhood, I used to recite patriotic poems with my father. My first public appearance was at the age of 16 when I recited some poems and songs from the stage to inspire a post-emergency gathering in Delhi in 1977. During graduation in Hindu College, I was elected joint secretary.
My second innings in politics started in 1993 as president of Delhi Mahila Morcha and held various positions in party and unified MCD. I became councillor for the fourth consecutive time from Sawan Park Ward 66.
What is your dream project for NDMC as Mayor?
A medical college in the area. The proposal has already been passed by Standing Committee and Delhi government and is pending with union ministry of urban development. We hope we could start from next academic session.
Any dream project for your own constituency?
Presently, I am focussing on better sanitation, maintenance of parks, community centres and roads in my constituency.
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