Relieved at seeing the challenging year 2010 go past, the Delhi government is likely to make all-out efforts to provide basic amenities to more than 1,600 unauthorised colonies in a clear move to keep voters happy for the MCD elections in 2012.
Delhi government officials maintain that the year 2010 proved the most challenging in recent times. The city government had received flak from all quarters for the shoddy preparations for the Commonwealth Games. The worst day for the city government in 2010 was when a foot overbridge came crashing down just days before the mega sporting event kicked-off and in the end it was the Army which bailed it out by handing over the FOB in flat seven days.
“For 2011, Delhi government has clear focus to improve civic amenities in unauthorised colonies apart from improving the traffic conditions in the city. The government will try to speed up regularisation of unauthorised colonies as well as laying down water supply pipeline along with sewerage,” said a senior government official.
The city government’s focus on unauthorised colonies is apparent in view of the 2012 MCD elections. In 2007, the BJP had wrested the power in MCD from the Congress.
The city government is also likely to face another challenge very soon in the new year on the issue of power tariff revision.
Though the ruling Congress in Delhi has put the demand for full statehood in the cold basket despite the Delhi Assembly passing resolutions in this regard on a number of occasions, chief minister Sheila Dikshit is likely to push for her demand over control of the traffic management.
However, Ms Dikshit would like to forget having getting at loggerheads with the lieutenant-governor Tejendra Khanna on the issue of “circle rate” revision.