Union MoS for housing and urban affairs ‘The people of Delhi want decency, development and decorum’

NEW DELHI: A day after the Supreme Court stayed the changes to Delhi’s Master Plan 2021, which was meant to give relief to city traders, Union housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that his ministry is confident of finding a solution to the civic mess in the Capital. Excerpts: The courtdirected sealing of unauthorised commercial establishments has resumed. Do you think this is justified? All concerned authorities — the Delhi government, municipal corporations and all other stakeholders, have not fulfilled their responsibilities. Also, the Master Plan of Delhi (MPD) has to be flexible and evolving as cities are not static institutions. But the MPD has in-built structural limitations as the arrangements did not have rationalised conversion charges and there are problem with the floor area ratio. However, that does not mean people should take law into their own hands. So the court has stepped in. I do not want to comment on the court initiatives... We have worked out the contours of the solution based on public hearings and submission made by RWAs and various other stakeholders, which will be put in an affidavit and submitted in court. If the court does not agree, we’ll weigh our options but we won’t give up. Former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit had blamed the “unbridled influx” of migrants for much of the city’s woes. As a Dilliwala, do you agree? My Delhi credentials are second to none… But I can’t allow my love for Delhi to interfere and trample with basic rights that every Indian citizen enjoys. The BJP has struggled to find a CM face in Delhi, which has affected its poll prospects. Does the party have a CM candidate for 2020? That’s for the party to decide. The BJP senior leadership takes Delhi very seriously as it is the National Capital where India is showcased. So we can’t have a situation where somebody or a group of people, who have scant respect for institutions, destabilise our country. But an antagonistic relationship with the Delhi government does not augur well. It takes two to tango. When I became minister, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal came to meet me. I reminded him of pending projects and he said next week. It has been six months now. I am not antagonistic but if you see the friction between the CM and the elected representatives and the chief secretary does not augur well. We need to rethink on some of the basic issues and amends have to be made. I think the price has to be paid in the court of the people because people want development, decency and decorum. The Congress is regrouping in Delhi. Ajay Maken and Sheila Dikshit have join hands. Arvinder Singh Lovely is back. Do you see the Congress as a challenge to the BJP in Delhi? The BJP will wrap up the elections not only in Delhi but in all places across India for the simple reason that BJP’s political narrative is anchored in development. We are not worried about the Congress. People judge politicians not on the basis of what they say, but on what they deliver. Your ministry is implementing some of the Centre’s flagship programmes like smart cities mission, Swachh Bharat, etc. What are the challenges you face? Each scheme has a different challenge. In Swachh Bharat, we are creating awareness to bring in behavioural changes. This will ensure that our toilets are used and maintained. Solid waste management is another challenge. In programmes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and smart cities, getting funds is going to be a major thing. Finally, we must financially empower our local bodies. We cannot undertake the scale of planned urbanisation from government budgets.

The friction between the CM and the elected representatives and the chief secretary does not augur well. We need to rethink on some of the basic issues and make amends.