Some Semblance Of Work In MCD House After Over 2 Yrs

Time of India

21-05-2025

New Delhi: After nearly two and a half years,
Municipal Corporation of Delhi
held a proper meeting of its house on Wednesday, with councillors discussing
desilting
concerns and inadequate arrangements in their respective areas.
During the meeting, which lasted for nearly five hours, there were occasional disruptions, but the house functioned successfully.
The majority of councillors stressed that officials should meet them individually, share the status plan for desilting major drains in their respective wards, understand the
waterlogging
points and appoint a nodal officer. Demands were also made for construction material at the zonal offices to fix the damaged drains and potholes, and funds for the councillors.
Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh said over 100 councillors from four parties spoke on waterlogging, desilting and sanitation. "We did 70% desilting of 800 drains more than 4 feet deep and are coordinating with other departments so that big drains are cleaned on time," he said. "In certain zones, including Central and West, councillors complained about improper garbage collection. Those will be addressed."
BJP councillor Yogesh Verma said checking mosquito breeding for 10 weeks, for 10 minutes won't solve the problem.
He also questioned the public health department about insecticides arranged, coordination meetings with RWAs, and arrangements at hospitals. In reply, it was stated that 391 posts for anti-malaria inspectors, 279 for multi-task staff and 92 for malaria inspectors were vacant while insecticides were procured in sufficient quantity.
Councillors also questioned insufficient staff and inadequate desilting of major drains, increasing the risk of waterlogging in residential areas.
AAP councillor Sarika Chaudhary from Daryaganj said several important areas in her ward were inundated after every rain just because Barapullah nullah and connecting drains were not cleaned. AAP's Ashok Kumar Maanu of Tilak Nagar (West) said drains were totally choked and MCD was providing a machine just once a week.
Amit Nagpal, BJP councillor from Pitampura (Northwest), said MCD needed to take precautionary steps for Covid.
A private proposal for deferring user charges on the collection of garbage was placed by BJP councillors Satya Sharma, Yogesh Verma and Puneet Sharma, and it was approved. The proposal will now be forwarded to the commissioner, who will take the final call and bring it back before the house. "Several societies have been declared as zero waste colonies or extending full support. Further, a huge number of people in Delhi are not paying property tax but availing municipal services, so taking user charges from taxpayers is unfair," the proposal stated, suggesting formation of a committee to review the move.