Citing the violation of the model code of conduct, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has stopped implementation of new projects in the city, which means that even tendered works will be put on hold until the municipal elections on April 15.
After several councillors complained about development and road-related works being put on hold in their respective wards, MCD Additional Commissioner (Engineering) Manish Gupta said: “Implementing tendered work will lead to violation of the code of conduct and so they have been kept on hold.”
The councillors are especially concerned because they do not want the public in their ward to be inconvenienced so close to the elections. “All kinds of works like sanitation, schools, roads, whose maintenance lies with the MCD will be affected. People will suffer as a result,” said an MCD councillor.
While the Standing Committee passed several development related proposals at its meeting on Monday, none will be implemented because it will lead to violation of model code of conduct. Even though Deputy Chairman Sarita Chaudhury urged the executive wing to accelerate the completion of projects for which work orders have been given.
The model code of conduct came into effect from March 5. Several pending works related to road repair, drain covering, road naming and school building construction will be taken up only after the three new municipal corporations are formed after the elections.
While the Opposition questioned the clearing of proposals at this stage, an MCD official said that no private member resolutions were cleared.
