NEW DELHI: The Delhi government is considering a proposal to allocate Rs one crore each from the Chief Minister’s Development Fund to municipal councillors, in a first-of-its-kind move aimed at boosting their financial powers for developmental works in their wards.
Officials said the plan will be implemented in coordination with the Urban Development Department and will allow elected members of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to directly receive funds for developmental works in their wards.
The decision is being seen as a major step to address long-standing complaints from councillors who argued that the absence of funds limited their ability to deliver on public expectations.
However, the proposal comes with a caveat. The government has clarified that the funds cannot be used for works in unauthorised colonies, where responsibilities such as construction of roads, drainage, sewers and other civic projects will remain with departments like Irrigation and Flood Control and the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC). These departments are already executing such works, but councillors say the arrangement leaves them dependent on officials with whom they share little coordination.
“This system will create hurdles for us. People hold councillors accountable at the local level, but even after having funds, we will be forced to rely on government departments,” a BJP councillor said, expressing concern over possible delays and red tapism.
Councillors said that they have raised the matter before Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh and Standing Committee chairperson Satya Sharma. They have demanded that a mechanism be devised to allow MCD to undertake developmental works in unauthorised colonies as well.
“MCD is the most closely connected to people and understands the needs of the area better than any other agency. If the jurisdiction is extended to unauthorised colonies, then a majority of the problems they face regarding water, sanitation and maintenance of roads could be resolved at the ward level only,” another councillor argued.