Criticising Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's allegations against the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on the condition of rural roads in the city, leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled civic agency dubbed the move as “petty politics” and “sidestepping of responsibility.” The leaders also accused the Delhi Government of not providing adequate funds for carrying out development works in these areas.
Addressing a joint press conference on Friday, MCD Standing Committee chairman Yogendra Chandolia and Leader of the House Subhash Arya said: “While making the statement in Delhi Assembly recently, basic facts and ground reality were ignored. The amount granted to MCD for roads are spent only for the same purpose and not siphoned off or misused for any other purpose.”
They claimed the total length of roads in Delhi is 30,923 km, but even though it looks after 88 per cent of all roads, the MCD is provided little funds. Elaborating on the issue, Mr. Chandolia said: “A total of 27,139 km of road length comes under jurisdiction of the MCD, but we are provided only Rs. 75 crore as funds. On the other hand, Public Works Department of the Delhi Government controls only 2,350 km of roads but is provided a fund of Rs. 206 crore. If this is not injustice then what is?”
They claimed that the allegation against the MCD was a “political ploy” by the Delhi Government to take control of rural roads. “It is the conspiracy of the Delhi Government first to purposely stop grants to MCD in certain areas, leave the people of that area suffer for some years, then criticise the civic body for that and ultimately take over the work after terming the MCD as incompetent,” added Mr. Chandolia.
Mr. Arya said: “If roads in rural areas are in a bad shape, the Delhi Government is solely responsible for that. The Delhi Government purposely constituted the Rural Development Board to usurp the rights of the MCD, whereas as per the provisions of the Delhi Municipal Act, 1957, it is MCD's discretionary function to carry out development works in rural areas. The Delhi Government is providing funds to Rural Development Board instead of MCD for development of these areas.”
