Delhi to get facelift before Commonwealth Games: Dikshit

New Delhi, Aug 15: Infrastructure in Delhi will be strengthen and the city will get a facelift before the commencement of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit announced today.

''The Delhi Government during the last seven years has strived hard to make Delhi a world-class city. This resolve has been further strengthened by selection of Delhi to host the Commonwealth Games 2010, which has provided a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the city's infrastructure to make it a global city,'' Ms Dikshit said in her address after unfurling the National Flag on the 60th Independence Day at Chhatrasal Stadium here.

The Chief Minister took the salute at the Independence day Parade comprising various contingents of Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, Home Guard, Civil Defence, NCC, NSS, Scouts and Guide and school children.

She presented President Medals to the widows of seven fire Officers who lost their lives on duty. Seven serving fire officers and seven best NCC cadets were also honoured on this occasion.

Ms Dikshit said clean city campaigns have been launched from time-to-time to involve the citizens in making Delhi cleaner.

The Chief Minister said the Government has actively pursued construction of Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways around Delhi to divert all un-destined vehicles for the Capital city, passing through Delhi, decongest major roads and curb vehicular pollution.

''Construction work of several new flyovers like Naraina, Mangolpuri etc. is under progress and Delhi government is going to construct a flyover at Mukarba Chowk to ease the growing traffic on outer Ring Road and GT Karnal Road,'' she added.

She said a new world-class bridge over river Yamuna at Wazirabad at a cost of Rs 454 crore would also be constructed.

About meeting the growing demand of power in the capital, She said the government has decided to set up a 2000 MW pithead coal based power project in Janjgir Champa district of Chhattisgarh.

''The plant will make available 1000 MW of power well before the Commonwealth Games, 2010. Two dedicated 500 MW Thermal Power Plants are also being set up in Dadri by the NTPC,'' she pointed out.

The Chief Minister appealed to the citizens of the city to conserve power and cut down wasteful energy consumption.

She announced that a power and water conservation week would also be observed in Delhi in the month of September.

While the Delhi Government will continue to make concerted efforts to rationalise water supply, the Chief Minister implored upon all citizens to conserve the source and adopt rainwater harvesting system.

Highlighting the achievements in the field of education, Ms Dikshit said the continuous pursuit for quality education has started bearing fruits.

''This year, we have achieved the best ever results both in class X as well as in Class XII CBSE Examinations. In Class X and in class XII, pass percentage has substantially gone up,'' she added.

The Delhi Government has decided to open five new Pratibha Vikas Vidyalayas, she announced.

To put an end to female foeticide, the Delhi Government has decided that Rs 5000 will be provided on birth of a girl child to all the parents.

''The deposited amount along with interest may be withdrawn on completion of 18 years of age and after study upto IX class,'' she added.

Ms Dikshit said for senior citizens, financial assistance under the Old Age Pension scheme has been enhanced from Rs 350 per month to Rs 400 per month. ''Dedicated clinics have been started for them in government hospitals,'' she added. To make Primary Health Care services more meaningful and broad based, Ms Dikshit said a comprehensive strategy has been prepared under Health Mission of Delhi on the lines of the National Rural Health Mission launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

With an aim to bring health services at the doorsteps of citizens, the Delhi Government has decided to open 300 new well-equipped dispensaries.

The Delhi Government has also taken up housing for the poor in a big way DSIDC has been asked to construct 40,000 low cost houses under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Project over the next two years.

The first batch of 3,000 houses is ready for possession, she said.

New Industrial areas have been developed to relocate industries operating in residential and non-conforming area of Delhi.

The Chief Minister said allotment of 22,387 plots and flats has already been done at Bawana and other industrial areas.

''The protection of Delhi's environment has always been a priority of the Government. Green cover of Delhi, which was only 26 sq. km in 1997, has gone up now to 330 sq. km. All the departments have been directed to prepare a greening action plan to make Delhi the greenest metro before the Commonwealth Games, 2010,'' she said.

While expressing satisfaction over the pace of e-governance, she said Delhi has been declared the best e-governed state in North India.

''IT is seen as a tool to meet the end of providing better services to the people and bridging the gap between people and the Government rather than being an end in itself,'' she said.

''The Right to Information Act has played the role of a catalyst in our endeavour to provide a transparent administration. Delhi is one of the first states to introduce the Right to Information Act as an important right to its citizens,'' Ms Dikshit added.

She expressed confidence that RTI would go a long way in strengthening Government-Citizen 'Bhagidari.'

UNI