Formation of panel to study MCD division political move: BJP

New Delhi, Feb 8 (PTI) The ruling BJP in MCD today termedas "politically motivated" the formation of a panel by Delhigovernment to study the possible division of the civic bodyand accused it of trying to "weaken" the corporation.

The BJP asked why the Congress-ruled Delhi government setup yet another committee on the issue after five similarpanels had given recommendations in this matter.

"The Sheila Dikshit government''s move is politicallymotivated. Their only aim is to usurp the rights of MCD,"Yogender Chandolia, the Chairman of the Standing Committee ofthe civic agency, said.

The Delhi government, which has been critical of MCD''sfunctioning under the BJP, yesterday set up a high-poweredcommittee to examine possible division of the civic body intoa number of "workable units" to enhance its performance.

The government had in the past set up variousadministrative committees to recommend reorganisation of thecivic body but this is for the first time a committeecomprising political leaders has been formed.

The committee will be headed by Finance Minister A KWalia and its four members are Transport Minister ArvinderSingh Lovely, PWD Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan and senior BJPleaders V K Malhotra and Jagdish Mukhi.

"Five panels have been set up so far on issue of MCDreorganisation. They did not implement their recommendationsand now we have got another panel. Slum department has alreadybeen taken over from us. Today I saw reports that streetlightmaintenance will be given to private discoms. The government''sintention is not right," said Chandolia.

MCD Works Committee Chairman Jagdish Mamgain said theformation of the panel just a year before the MCD polls is anattempt by Congress to "run away" from the election.

"During her tenure Dikshit has already appointed OmeshSehgal, Ashok Pradhan, Virender Prakash, Deep Chand Bandhu andJagdish Sagar committees. More or less all have recommendedtransfer of power from MCD to Delhi government. Why one morecommittee? Why the Chief Minister is not trying to get fullstatehood for Delhi?" Mamgain asked.

He also said the reported decision to assign maintenanceof streetlights to discoms is "unconstitutional and violationof DMC Act, 1957".

As per the act, lighting in public streets and publicplaces is the right given to MCD, he said.

Mamgain said at present MCD has given the maintenance ofits 30,02,60 streetlights to the discoms. Rs 73 per pole isgiven to NDPL, BYPL and BRPL for maintenance charges.

"On inspection it was found that more than 30 per centpoles are non-functional. Their payment was stopped and awarning was already given to them," he said.

Discoms have already failed in delivering the goods, hesaid and smelt a "hidden agenda of providing financial benefitto private electricity companies" behind the move.