Sheila underlines need for full statehood for Delhi

New Delhi, Dec 9 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today underlined the need for full statehood for the national capital.

Speaking at the meeting of the National Development Council Meeting here, she said it had been long felt that the real solution to the planned and faster growth of Delhi laty in the grant of statehood to it.

A strong desire had been articulated by the Delhi Legislative Assembly for statehood for Delhi, she said in her address at the NDC meeting here.

Pending grant of statehood to Delhi, certain inconsistencies between the spirit behind devolution enshrined in Article 239 AA of the Constitution and various enactments in force that curtailed the role and fetter the authority and preceived accountability of the elected government, should be immediately addressed, she added.

''The NDC is the apex institution for giving substance to the federal vision of ensuring that the different tiers of the government have specific roles and responsibilities towards culmination of a harmonious set of outcomes for the country as a whole.'' As we were here to discuss the targets vis-a-ais the 11th Five Year Plan, during the which period the 2010 Commonwealth Games would be staged in Delhi, it was necessary that in the interest of federal planning and harmonious outcomes, a decision on the status of Delhi in sharing of power and authority was taken on a faster mode, the chief minister added.

UNI IP VD GC1551