North MCD decides not to handover Naini lake to Delhi government

Amid brewing tussles between the AAP-ruled Delhi government and BJP-ruled civic bodies, the North MCD on Wednesday denied to hand over Naini Lake in Model Town to the Tourism department for boating and related activities. The civic body is now planning to outsource a private partner to develop the lake and provide boating facilities.

“Our experience with the Delhi government in terms of revenue sharing has been very pessimistic. Delhi government never honoured its commitments on providing revenue share due to MCDs. Furthermore, we were offered 12.5 per cent revenue in this project,” said Vijay Prakash Pandey, Leader of the House, North MCD. In a meeting with Delhi’s Tourism and Transport minister Kapil Mishra, former North MCD Mayor Ravinder Gupta had reportedly assured to provide the lake for development and boating facilities. In pursuance to this consensus, a formal proposal was put up by the Municipal Commissioner PK Gupta before the Standing Committee of North MCD on Wednesday.

“We direct the commissioner to find out the possibilities of outsourcing the development of the lake. The lake should not be given to the Delhi government and they will also develop it through outsourcing. The Remunerative Project (RP) Cell of the Corporation is directed to take up the project and prepare a detailed plan,” added Pandey. 

All the members of the Standing Committee including Leader of Opposition Mukesh Goel supported the view of Pandey. The committee was about to outrightly reject the proposal but the commissioner informed that there was probably some Memorandum of Understanding between the former Mayor and Mishra. “We refer back the matter. The commissioner is directed to present if documents exists on this matter before the committee whenever the proposal is put before the meeting. It will help the committee to take a legally sound decision on the issue,” said Parvesh Wahi, Chairperson, Standing Committee, North MCD.