The ruling BJP in three municipal corporations has decided to defy the lieutenant Governor’s order to increase parking charges in the Capital. The leadership in the corporations on Thursday made it clear that the Standing Committees would not approve any such proposal. Assembly elections are due in the city in November.
Ram Kishan Singhal, newly-elected chairman of the Standing Committee in North Delhi Municipal Corporation, said, “The increase in parking charges is unjust. levying a hefty charge on purchase of new vehicles would have been a better idea. The Standing Committee will not approve any increase. This is our party’s decision and we will abide by it.”
“The contention of the Bhure lal Committee - that hefty parking charges will discourage use of private vehicles - is illogical. It is also unfair to put financial burden on people without upgrading facilities,” Singhal added.
The refusal of municipal corporations to increase parking charges assumes significance as all other civic agencies - the DDA, Delhi Metro and New Delhi Municipal Council - have already approved it.
However, BJP-ruled corporations are opposed to such a move so close to the elections. “Implementation of revised parking rates has to be done by municipal corporations. However, at no point of time were we consulted before recommendation for an increase was made to the lieutenant Governor,” pointed out Mahendra Nagpal, leader of House in the North Delhi Corporation.
His counterpart in the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Subhash Arya, too said there was no possibility of a hike till the Assembly elections. Their contention, the leaders said, was conveyed to lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna during a meeting on Thursday.
Earlier, Singhal was unanimously elected chairman of the Standing Committee of North Delhi Municipal Corporation, while Mohan Bhardwaj took over the post of deputy chairman.
Giving details of the meeting with Khanna, where Mayors, Standing Committee chairmen and leaders of House of the three corporations were also present, Singhal said the issue of cleaning drains alongside roads maintained by PWD also came up for discussion.
“We told him that these drains have not been cleaned, and will create havoc during the monsoon. He suggested we take control of the drains,” Nagpal said. “We are willing to do so only if we are given a Budget for it,” he added.