New SDMC mayor Narendra Chawla promises transparency
NEWDELHI: The South Delhi Municipal Corporation got its new mayor on Thursday. Narendra Chawla, a BJP councillor from Janakpuri, was elected unopposed during a special house meeting on Thursday.
Addressing reporters after taking over as the new mayor, Chawla said that preventing corruption and bringing ‘absolute transparency’ in the day to day functioning of the civic agency will be his priority. The new mayor announced the launch of an anti- corruption helpline number and an email address, where the civic body would receive antigraft complaints.
“Over the digital mechanism, people can register complaints related with unauthorised construction and regarding officials and poor civic services. A back up team will be created to monitor these complaints and ensure their redressal in time-bound manner. Updates will be regularly sent to the complainant,” said Chawla, BJP councillor from Janakpuri West area.
A senior Delhi BJP leader said while administrative complaints will be sent to office of central vigilance officer, those related to councillors will be sent to state party office. The initiative is a part of directives issued to party leaders in civic bodies by the BJP state unit president Manoj Tiwari to improve their performance ahead of the general elections next year.
“We want to ensure high level transparency in civic bodies which often face serious allegations. This will help to gain trust of the common man. The intension is clear no innocent should be punished and real culprits should not be left,” said Tiwari.
Mayors in other two municipal corporations are likely to make similar announcements after elections are held on Friday.
Chawla said he would concentrate on sanitation, health, education, parking and water conservation issues during his tenure.
“To avoid wastage of water we will come out with action plan to demoralise people from washing their cars,” he said. Chawla did not give details how he would ask residents not to waste water by washing cars. “We will prepare an action plan after discussion with the experts in water sector,”
During house meeting, Satyapal Malik, councillor from Roshanpura was also chosen unopposed as the deputy mayor as no other party had filed nominations for the two posts.
Three members for the standing committee were also elected during the house meeting. From the BJP, Kamaljeet Sehrawat, former mayor and councillor from Dwarka B and Poonam Bhati from Tuglakabad Extension were elected as members, while Narendra Kumar from AAP was also elected.