For the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) Commissioner Manish Gupta, days are numbered it seems. The ruling BJP and Opposition Congress have jointly opened a front against the Commissioner for his laxity in executing various projects, including the beginning of development works in unauthorised regularised (UR) colonies.
Taking a strict note of his failure, leader of the House Subhash Arya on Tuesday, sought a clarification from the Commissioner and warned that a no-confidence motion would be moved against him, if he failed to begin the development works by June 10. leader of Opposition Farhad Suri said that the party would support the move as it pertained to the benefit of the common man.
Raising the issue before the Standing Committee of SDMC on Tuesday, Arya alleged that Commissioner Gupta, despite clear cut instructions of starting development works in 312 colonies on private land, chose to sit over the issue.
He also accused the officials including the Commissioner of corruption. When sought a clarification during the meeting, Gupta asked the Engineer-in-chief, Ravi Das to respond, who shifted the responsibility to the chief town planner Shamsher Singh.
Singh also sought to recluse himself saying that he was awaiting orders from the SDMC Commissioner. Dissatisfied with the reply, Standing Committee Chairman Rajesh Gehlot adjourned the meeting.
later in a joint Press conference, Gehlot and Arya announced that they would move a no-confidence motion against Gupta for his removal, if he failed to come up with the order of starting development works in the UR colonies.
"The Municipal Commissioner has been acting in an indisciplined manner. There has been complete laxity on his part even in the matters pertaining to development.
The Commissioner claims that his officers are making him a scapegoat. This clearly shows his failure to control his officers. We will seek his removal if he does not come with the order by the next House meeting of SDMC, which is scheduled for June 10," Arya said.
leader of Opposition in the Corporation, Farhad Suri too, extended his party's support to the move saying this was in interest of the people. "We will support BJP if it brings no-confidence motion against the Municipal Commissioner. If the BJP does not bring no-confidence motion against him, we (Congress) will do the same and seek support of the ruling BJP," Suri said.
It is noteworthy that the SDMC during its last Standing Committee meeting on May 15, passed a resolution seeking to carry out development works in 312 UR colonies on private land. It has also directed the Municipal Commissioner to ensure that no other agency carries out any work in these areas.
The Municipal Commissioner has been acting in a grossly indisciplined manner. There has been complete laxity on his part even in matters pertaining to development. The Commissioner claims his officers are making him a scapegoat. This clearly
shows the Commissioner's failure to control his own subordinates. We will seek his removal if he does not come with the order by the next House meeting of SDMC, which is scheduled for June 10
leader of House in SDMC Subhash Arya
We will support the BJP if it brings no-confidence motion against the Municipal Commissioner. There have been instances of his laxity on several issues; mostly related to development projects. If the BJP does not bring no-confidence motion against him, we (Congress) will do the same and seek support of the ruling BJP
leader of Opposition in SDMC Farhad Suri