Cong manifesto promises MPD implementation, develop unauth colonies

New Delhi, Mar 30 (UNI) The Congress today promised to ensure implementation of the 2021 Delhi Master Plan in its true spirit and comprehensive development of 1500 unauthorised colonies regularised under MPD 2021 as part of its manifesto for the elections to the coming Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Identifying more roads, other than the 2183 already notified, for commercial or mixed land use, exempting rural areas and widows from property tax, introduction of new liberalised building bye-laws to eliminate problems of unauthorised constructions are among the salient features of the Congress manifesto for the polls, released at a joint press conference here by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, president of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, senior party MPs Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, MP Sandip Dikshit and former DPCC chief Subhash Chopra.

Addressing reporters after the release of the manifesto in four languages - English, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi - DPCC chief Rambabu Sharma said,''we have fully implemented all the promises made by us in the manifesto for the 2002 MCD polls.

For example, we had promised to make MCD more efficient and effective which we have sought to achieve through dividing the work of the MCD in 12 zones.'' ''Also, over the last five years, the Government has taken steps to ensure that there is no shortage of power and water in Delhi. For example, the commissioning of the 140 MGD Sonia Vihar water treatment plant has taken care of the shortage of water,''Mr Sharma said.

Among the achievements of the Congress in the last five years listed by him are introduction of unit area method of property tax assessment, introduction of several E governance initiatives and development of new sanitary landfill sites.

Denying that price rise was an issue in the polls, Mr Sharma said,''thanks to the steps taken by the Chief Minister, the prices of all commodities are today under control. So, it is not an issue in the polls.'' More UNI