Babus rule DDA while leaders indulge in blame-game

As the leaders are busy in leg pulling, the babus have a free hand to run the city planner — Delhi Development Authority (DDA). It’s probably for the first time in the history of DDA that the highest decision making body for the planned development of the city — DDA Board; is taking crucial policy decisions without people’s representatives. The authority board has taken several decisions in its previous two board meetings and is scheduled to meet again on 7 July to approve some crucial policy decisions.

As per DDA Act, five public representatives — three MLAs and two councillors; are appointed as Non Official Members in the 14 member board of DDA chaired by Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Najeeb Jung. 

But no MLA has been appointed after the term of three MLAs of fourth Delhi assembly- Union Health Minister and Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan, Subhash Chopra and Naseeb Singh expired in December 2013. Interestingly two MLAs- Arvind Kejriwal and Surender Singh of the current fifth Delhi assembly are members in the board of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). ‘We will soon write the Union Urban Development Ministry to appoint the public representatives in the board,’ said Balvinder Kumar, Vice Chairman of DDA. The next board meeting scheduled on 7 July is likely to take crucial decisions on Delhi Apartment Act besides some crucial policy decisions.

The DDA has no councillor in its board after tri-furcation of erstwhile MCD. ‘It was the Congress government which degraded MCD’s representation in DDA. We had several meetings with LG Najeeb Jung and also his predecessor but nothing yielded results. We demand adequate representation of MCDs in DDA board immediately,’ said Satish Upadhayay, chairman of standing committee in South DMC. Arvind Kejriwal lead government took no initiative either to send councillors or MLAs in the board of DDA. 

MCDs have no representation in DDA board since May 2012. Same is the situation of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) where four public representatives- two each from MCD (councillors) and Delhi assembly (MLA) are appointed as board members.