Delhi govt infringing on municipal bodies' rights: BJP

Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel today accused the Delhi government of "taking away" the powers of local municipal bodies and infringing on their rights.
"The way Delhi government has been taking away departments from under the purview of municipal corporations is not correct," Goel said.
He was speaking to reporters after the party candidates for the post of Mayor and Deputy Mayor in East Delhi Municipal Corporation filed their nomination papers in his presence.
On the issue of unauthorised construction, Goel questioned as to why the sub divisional magistrates deployed for the task had been removed.
"This is a problem that plagues Delhi and the state government should cooperate with the civic bodies in the matter. I do not understand why the SDMs who had been ordered to look into the matter have been withdrawn," he said.

"The government is an elected body and should give complete support to the municipal corporations. After all, the administrative heads here, i.E., the commissioners are appointed in consultation with the chief minister and the Lieutenant Governor is above all the three corporations," Goel said.
He also expressed displeasure at the one-year term for mayors in the corporation, saying it is a very short time.
"I would prefer if the term extended to two-and-a-half years. However, we will follow the rules and the new team will work in close coordination with the old one so there should not be any problem," he said.