The Delhi Congress on Tuesday released its fifth manifesto on ‘Urban Infrastructure and Civic Amenities’ for the municipal poll scheduled for April 23.
The party has announced a slew of measures to improve the functioning of three corporations. In the manifesto that came five days before the crucial polls, the Congress promised Bhagidari with “Resident Welfare Associations” (RWAs) to deal with parking menace in residential colonies, time-bound delivery of service charter, exemption of property tax on self occupied properties, building public toilet in a radius of every one km, covering of all drains and widening of village roads.
The party will also come out with a separate manifesto for the youth on Wednesday. To woo a sizeable number of Poorvanchallis voters, the party has also promised to earmark a separate fund to ensure hygienic and clean surroundings at ghats for Chhat Puja.
Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken said, “We will authorise RWA to identify and earmark parking slots in their colonies. They can charge residents and thereafter the revenue collected may be used for developing parking facilities and on security of premises.
“We will also implement ‘The MCD Right of Citizen to Time-Bound Delivery of Services Charter’. If any Government servant fails to deliver services within stipulated time, they will be liable to pay Rs250 per day to the complainants as fine,” he said.
On April 17, the party had released its four manifestos, promising to set up a rural poverty alleviation department, cut down house tax, provide unemployment allowance and regularise sanitation workers. In an apparent move to win over voters, the Congress also promised to provide free health and accident insurance, unemployment security funds to street vendors and those living in unauthorised colonies. It also promised to provide benefits to unorganised sector workers, including domestic helps.
The party had already announced that no new taxes will be imposed; rather the existing house tax rates could be lowered by uprooting “corruption” and efficient collection of other taxes.
According to its manifesto released earlier this week, five lakh street vendors will be identified, registered and provided with licences to save them from harassment and exploitation. Also, all temporary sanitation workers in three municipal corporations will be regularised in two years, the manifesto said. The party manifesto also talks on regularisation and development of unauthorised colonies.
The Congress had introduced separate road maps for sanitation, primary health and education services rendered by corporations, besides a blueprint for their financial self reliance.
The first draft to revive the financial condition of the three municipal corporations within two years if voted to power was released earlier this month by former Finance Minister P Chidamabaram and Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia.
The draft blueprint also envisaged Rs2,000 crore annual fund for development of infrastructure-deficit areas, particularly the unauthorised colonies.
later second draft plan “Clean Delhi, Breathe Delhi” was unveiled by former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh, and Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Ajay Maken to make Delhi the “cleanest and most beautiful” city in the world.
The party’s third and last “blueprint” in which it stressed to improve the primary education and health in the Capital, released by former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor, Salman Khurshid, PC Chacko and Ajay Maken as the party is eyeing a comeback in the civic elections.