Raj Niwas looks to increase MCD Commissioner’s powers; bid to gain control, says AAP
Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has not cleared for over six months now a proposal to temporarily increase nancial powers of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Commissioner in the absence of the civic body Standing Committee, Raj Niwas o cials said on Saturday.
AAP said the move was an attempt by the Lieutenant-Governor to gain control over the civic body, alluding to the tussle between the party and the BJP-led Centre over control of the Delhi government bureaucrats.
Earlier this year, in January. Mayor Shelly Oberoi had moved the Supreme Court seeking directions that the MCD House be allowed to assume the function of the panel.
The apex court is yet decide on the plea. A proposal to delegate the panel’s powers to the MCD House was passed by the civic body earlier this year.
The constitution of the panel has been pending since the mayoral polls in February last year as AAP and the BJP have fought for control over the committee, the MCD’s main decision-making arm that has executive powers to grant approval to projects worth over ₹5 crore.
Six members of the panel, three each from both parties, were elected by the MCD House in February last year. The rest 12 are required to be elected by 12 ward committees from as many zones in the city.
Challenge in SC
Their election could not be held as AAP has challenged in the Supreme Court the voting rights of nominated members of the ward committees, who were appointed by the Centre-appointed L-G.
The party fears that giving voting rights to the nominated members might tilt the control of the panel towards the BJP, as the Centre could get its loyalists nominated through the L-G.
A Raj Niwas o cial said the proposal to increase nancial powers of the o cer was sent to Mr. Bharadwaj on October 10 last year. It proposes increasing the o cer’s powers to sanction projects worth up to ₹50 crore.
Another o cial said the L-G had on March 6 written to the Minister, asking him to return the le. Instead of giving his approval within the stipulated three days, Mr. Bharadwaj chose not to respond, the o cial said.
‘To bene t BJP’
Meanwhile, the ruling AAP said the problems stem from the L-G’s “political attitude” as he had “illegally appointed BJP o cials as aldermen (nominated members)”.
In a statement, the party said if the nancial powers of the o cer are increased, it will “end his accountability” towards the MCD House and elected councillors.
“The Commissioner comes directly under the L-G. In that case, the L-G will run the civic body. Then what is the point in holding the Municipal Corporation election,” the party added.