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New priorities for the new NDMC chief

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI NOV. 6. The New Delhi Municipal Council's new Chairperson, Parminder Mandip Singh, wants to make Lutyens' Delhi one of the best places on the globe in so far as sanitation, cleanliness and provision of civic amenities to its citizens is concerned.

Being a woman herself, Ms. Singh plans to launch a number of welfare projects and security measures for the fair sex during her tenure at NDMC.

At a press conference here today, Ms. Singh made it clear she was not in favour of organising cultural events like the highly popular "Morning Ragas'' until and unless they were sponsored. Instead, public money would be utilised for the welfare of the needy, poor and women, she said.

Ms. Singh said more hostels for working women would be constructed as the existing ones were not enough. Similarly, there was need for night shelters for the homeless women and children, she said, adding that talks were going on with non- governmental organisations in this regard. Constructions of public toilets exclusively for the women is another item on her agenda.

Targeting women and children living in Lutyen's Delhi, the civic body would soon launch regular health camps in various colonies, she announced. These camps would be held thrice a month. Self-help groups for economic independence of women would be revived and vocational training centres for women too would be launched soon, she added.

Giving details of her priorities, Ms. Singh said: "Maintaining cleanliness in the NDMC area would be on top of my agenda. Citizens will be made aware of their responsibilities and the litter-bugs would be penalised under NDMC Act.'' Her other priorities include streamlining of parking lots, decongestion of market places, collection of outstanding dues, educating the children about civic sense, redress public grievances, make citizens more responsible towards their city and ensure uninterrupted electricity and water supply.

Arguing that cleanliness in Lutyen's Delhi was more affected by congestion, encroachments and defacing of walls, she said special attention would be given to these areas as part of the cleanliness drive. More modern toilets and garbage collection centres would be constructed.

As for public grievances, Ms. Singh said it would be one of her thrust areas. "Though a Citizen's Charter detailing the various procedures of civic services and citizen's responsibilities already exists, they would be made more effective, transparent and accountable,'' she observed.

The existing NDMC website would be made interactive and the civic body would soon launch an IVRS (integrated voice record system) for public convenience. A number of information kiosks would be set up in various parts of NDMC. "For improving civic services, GIS mapping would be introduced,'' she said.

For ensuring uninterrupted supply and to meet the increasing demand for power, the NDMC was in the process of constructing sub-stations with the latest technology. ''Besides, my efforts would be to improve the streetlighting and give weightage to energy conservation measures,'' she said. With rain water harvesting already introduced, more buildings and public places would be brought under its net.

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