MCD not to privatise parks

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MAY 23. The Standing Committee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi today ruled out sponsorship and adoption of parks, roundabouts, roadside plantations and green strips for development and maintenance by private advertisement agencies.

However, the Standing Committee said it should be informed about the memorandum of understandings (MoUs) signed for the purpose with private registered companies, public sector undertakings, industrial houses, resident welfare associations and non- governmental organisations.

The Committee also decided that these MoUs will be signed for three years with a provision to review them annually.

Earlier the Committee expressed apprehensions that bringing in advertising agencies will lead to commercialisation of parks and central verges. ``We cannot accept this. If they are going to mint money, why should not we resort to bringing out tenders,'' they said.

Mr. Aggarwal said the sponsoring bodies will be allowed to put up only a small board as per specifications. ``As of now no advertisement will be allowed. If there is any, the entire process will be transparent and through tendering,'' he said.

Speaking on the occasion, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Ram Babu Sharma, pointed to the poor upkeep and maintenance of MCD parks and hoped things will improve with this proposal. He urged the officials to ensure that there was no misuse of park space by private parties.

The MCD has been handed over parks for maintenance purposes since 1990 and till now they have signed 76 MoU with private organisations. Now, the civic body wants to hand over a large number of parks to these private parties.

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