The way things are unfolding, every Delhiite is getting greatly disappointed by those who are in charge of the affairs of this historic city. Every day begins as a nightmare and office goers will testify that it takes upto two hours to reach their destinations. The same story gets repeated in the evening and there is just no let up so far as traffic jams go. It is easy to put the blame on the doorstep of the police and accuse the force of failing to regulate smooth traffic flow.
However, what can the police do if the roads have sunk or if there are huge potholes on every stretch. In addition, the water logging makes things even more difficult and needless to say the driving skills or lack of these of motorists and motorcyclists make things even worse. The Delhi government and its allied agencies have completely failed the citizens. The Congress and the BJP take pride in accusing each other but the truth is that every Delhiite is suffering and no one is listening. These mega projects have contributed in making this city so ugly that one wonders what will those who come for the Commonwealth Games see when they reach India’s capital.
As someone who was born and grew up here, I just cannot recall when the plight of the city and its citizens was worse than what it is today. Unchecked corruption and sub standard work has put us in a very embarrassing position on the eve of an international event. For the last two years, I have raised my deep concerns over the ability of those entrusted with the job of sprucing up the city but all warnings have fallen on deaf ears. No one seems to listen or let us put it this way that no one cares.
I am astonished why the Lt. Governor of the city who is the overall boss is keeping quiet. His passiveness is being interpreted as his lack of concern and many in the political circles are even saying that he is scared of the elected government in the city. I do not think that is true but it is for him to show some action. His detractors also believe that he has deliberately kept silent since he knows that there are a lot of financial irregularities. Being a typical bureaucrat, he is happy that his name is not figuring anywhere. But that is not the way, Mr Tejinder Khanna. You must take charge and save this city. You must visit sites and pull up officials like many of your worthy predecessors. The buck stops at you and there is no argument about that. You head the DDA and every agency of the government comes under your charge. You are the representative of the Centre and also the Administrator of the National Capital Territory. You cannot absolve yourself from anything.
Secondly, there are 10 MPs including seven from Lok Sabha who represent the capital in Parliament. What are they doing about the city and the constituencies they represent? Why are they quiet? Do they not have any accountability to the people? Do they know that people have taken note of their passive stance and will give their verdict at an appropriate time? They must take up the issue at party fora and with their colleagues in the government. The mess in the city is a very poor reflection on all the MPs as well as it is on the Delhi government.
Third, when will the BJP stop being the ‘B’ team of the government? If one goes by the proceedings of the Delhi Assembly, the Saffron brigade has completely lost it. It has no leader either within the Assembly or outside it whose heart bleeds for this city anymore. Does the party not realize that it will fail to be an alternative to the Congress, at least in Delhi if it does not put its act together? The BSP is waiting in the wings and if Mayawati puts up good candidates and campaigns extensively, she can make a dent in at least five of the seven Lok Sabha constituencies. It is bad news both for the Congress and the BJP.
Finally, the Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit must rise to the occasion and save the city, which has elected her three times. She should free herself from the shackles of the bureaucracy and vested interests and take some firm steps to resuscitate the capital we all love. It has to be done before it is too late. The guilty must be punished and brought to book. This should also be construed as an appeal from an agitated and concerned citizen.
with thanks : blogs.hindustantimes.com : Mr Pankaj Vohra : link in headline above.
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