Preety Agarwal, Mayor, North Delhi
‘Swachhata, Swasthya and Shiksha, are my Priorities’
Vector-borne disease outbreak is a problem that starts haunting people on the advent of summer every year.
We have taken up the work on war footing to ensure that no such problem occurs this year. Door-to-door campaigns have already been started to create awareness among people. I have started taking tour of all wards and I am urging people to take oath of cleanliness. We need public support to keep the situation under control.
Salaries of staff, including the sanitation workers, are pending for past two months, and the pensioners are also awaiting their dues for more than a year now.
Our funds are stuck at Delhi government’s end. We hope that the government will help us in tackling the financial crisis by releasing funds in time.
Parents have started opting for private schools instead of the MCD-run government schools lately.
It is a major problem. We need to work on this front. Swachhata, Swasthya and Shiksha, are my priorities. During my initial tour of schools, I have found that classrooms need proper seating arrangement. We are also planning to introduce the concept of Smart Classrooms in our schools.
Rani Jhansi grade separator project was supposed to be completed in 2009 but it is hanging in balance even after seven years.
The one kilometre-long flyover from St. Stephen’s Hospital in Tis Hazari to Filmistan Cinema is definitely one of our biggest projects. I went for its inspection and we expect to open it by Diwali.
What’s your assessment of the situation in the North MCD in the past one week?
People have high expectations. People can send their complaints and queries through social media platforms. People can tweet @PreetyAgarwaal or send a Facebook message, and their problems will be addressed. Public welfare is my priority.
Kamaljeet Sherwat, Mayor, South Delhi
‘Work has Begun, You will See the Results Soon’
Any steps being taken to streamline garbage collection and maintaining cleanliness.
Cleanliness is one of our primary responsibilities. We will ensure that people are made aware about the benefits of segregating garbage (biodegradable and non-biodegradable) before throwing it, and generating energy from waste. We are also planning to plant one lakh saplings across the capital to mark Environment Day on June 5.
This is pre-monsoon time, and city is at the risk of vector-borne disease outbreak, like every year.
I am pulling up all the departments to ensure proper working but my priority is sanitation and health. In the recent meetings, we charted out plan for de-silting of all drains. From June 1, our anti-larvae spray programme will also start. Work is being done and you will see the results soon.
The education department of South Delhi is struggling to keep students in the schools.
Many new schools have opened up in Delhi. Owing to this, parents are now preferring to send their children to private schools seeking a better education. Whatever might be the reason for the students to leave, I will try to resolve all the problems and raise standard of government schools. So, that people start taking admission in MCD schools.
There are almost half a dozen pending projects, including the development of major parking lots.
Parking is becoming a big issue for Delhi with its ever-increasing population. Firstly, we will use our vacant plots as parking areas. Then, we will make a detailed plan and mark specific areas where SDMC can develop parking lots.
Should the three MCDs be unified?
It is so early say anything but whatever we have said in our manifesto will be implemented.
Neema Bhagat, Mayor, East Delhi
‘MCDs Should be Unified for Better Functioning’
East Delhi areas faced the worst situation last year following multiple strikes by the sanitation staff over non-payment of salaries.
I have conducted two meetings with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal regarding the fund of Rs 3,970 crore that is to be given to us by the Delhi government. We have requested the L-G to intervene in the matter. We don’t not generate much revenue from sources like house and property tax as the other corporations do, we are 100 per cent dependent on the funds sent by the Union government, which are not released timely by the Delhi government.
Strategy to prevent vector-borne diseases this year.
From next month, we will launch fumigation and anti-larvae drive in all areas that fall under our jurisdiction. Health is my top priority. We are
working with resident welfare bodies to create awareness among people. Another problem we are facing is Delhi government’s lack of will to keep the city clean and people healthy. The PWD is not de-silting the drains but only we are blamed for any blockage and flooding. Every department needs to take care of the tasks that are their responsibility.
Students are turning to private schools. Is the standard of education not up to the mark in MCD government schools?
The number of vacancies of teachers is a big issue before us. But we have barely enough funds to pay the existing staff. To attract more students to MCD schools and provide them quality education, we are planning for digitisation of classrooms.
Do you think the MCDs should be unified?
Looking at the financial situation of the civic bodies, I believe that the MCDs should be unified as the common pool of resources is missing right now and East MCD is the worst hit. The burden of three MCDs and I think we can manage things better together.