Baijal writes to Delhi CM; says ministers were informed about

Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal today wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the latter's complaint that he and his ministers were "kept in dark" about the work done on resolving the city's traffic bottlenecks.

The chief minister had on July 6 written a letter to Baijal stating that he and his cabinet colleagues were not aware of the constitution of six task forces by the LG to deal with traffic congestion.

In his letter to the chief minister, Baijal cited several meetings attended by PWD Minister Satyendar Jain and secretary to transport minister on the issue.

"The Lt Governor expressed surprise that the CM and his ministers did not have any knowledge of the issue, despite so much work been done in the last six months with the minister (Jain) attending the meetings or being informed from time to time, and the issue itself getting so much of media coverage," the LG office said in a press statement.
 

He said the statement (CM's July 6 letter) about the elected government being kept in dark did not appear to be based on facts.

"In today's letter, the chief minister was informed by the LG that minutes of the very first meeting he chaired to review submission of the six task forces on March 28 was endorsed to the secretary to minister (Transport)," the LG office's statement said.

"A copy of the minutes of this meeting too was endorsed to the secretary to minister (Transport). Subsequent to this, the LG chaired another meeting on May 16 focusing on two pilot corridors - Aurobindo Marg (Aurobindo Marg to Andheria More) and Savitri Flyover (Chirag Delhi Crossing to Savitri Flyover)," Baijal said.

The LG's statement also stated that PWD and Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain not only attended this meeting but also gave useful suggestions.

"The PWD minister also attended a meeting on June 6 to review action taken in pursuance of a Delhi High Court order. This fact was clearly mentioned in a previous letter of the Lt Governor to the chief minister dated July 5," the statement added.

Baijal, however, welcomed the chief minister's offer of full cooperation and hoped that an effective solution to this complex problem will be found at the earliest with the cooperation of all stakeholders.

In the first week of July, Kejriwal had written to the chief secretary, asking him to directed the transport department to prepare a list of bottlenecks on city's roads by August 15.

Following the CM's letter, Baijal had on July 5 written to Kejriwal saying that he has already constituted six task forces to deal with the problem.