Power, water situation not an issue in MCD polls: Delhi CM

New Delhi, Mar 30 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today asserted that the water and power situation in the capital was not an issue in the coming polls to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, scheduled to be held on April 5.

While admitting that there could be discontentment among some section of people on the issue of sealing, the Chief Minister denied that there was any grievance on the power and water situation in Delhi, which had witnessed a considerable improvement over the last few years.

''There has been a significant improvement in the power and water situation in Delhi over the last few years. Today, thanks to the commissioning of the Sonia Vihar water treatment plant, the shortage of water in the Capital has been resolved. On the power front too, though there may be some complaints due to faulty billings by power distribution firms, the overall situation is normal,''Ms Dikshit said at a press meet jointly held with president of the Delhi Pradesh Congress committee Rambabu Sharma to announce the Congress manifesto for the MCD polls.

On the issue of the division of the MCD, as promised in the Congress manifesto for the 2003 assembly polls in Delhi, the Chief Minister said a bigger achievement of the Congress had been an increase in the number of wards in the MCD house.

''An increase in the number of wards in the MCD house means that now there is one ward for every 50,000 people in Delhi. What this ensures is that it brings the Councillors close to the people which in turns aids the process of governance in the ward. It will also strengthen the process of grassroots democracy in Delhi by increasing accountability for the councillors,''Mrs Dikshit said.

UNI