With less than a week left for the Assembly polls, the Delhi Chief Minister and Congress candidate from New Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, seems confident of retaining power in the Capital. She is convinced that people will acknowledge the transformation of the city and the development carried out by her Government in the last 15 years.
Unfazed by the charges of corruption and price rise, Dikshit aims to make Delhi an e-governed transparent State in the next five years with round-the-clock water supply.
In an exclusive interview with The Pioneer’s Chief Reporter Parvez Sultan, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit outlined her plans to resolve the persistent problems of power, water and road traffic in the Capital
Do you agree that anti-incumbency might hamper Congress’ prospect of a fourth term in DelhiIJ
I think it is a pro-incumbency current. We have 15 years of work to showcase and we are proud of it. Two parties — BJP and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) — have ganged up against us. But their job is confined to making allegations and false promises. ‘Delhi Government is corrupt. We will bring down electricity bills’, they keep on claiming. You know apart from these assertions, there is no programme per se.
But, aren’t price rise and power tariff two main issues in this electionIJ
We have done a lot and are still trying to neutralise the effect of inflation by market interventions. For instance, when potatoes and onions became very expensive, we arranged the sale of onion at cheaper rates through over 300 vans across Delhi. We sent our people to Nashik and Alwar to get the best produce at the cheapest rates. Please appreciate that earnings have also increased along with prices. Delhi has the highest per capita income of over `2 lakh per, while the country’s average is `68,000. Today all wages are connected with inflation in the city; consequently a casual or unskilled labour draws about `10,000-12,000 per month at present. Therefore, people’s buying capacity has also gone up.
Power tariff and scarcity of water are two burning issues. The BJP says power tariff will come down by 30 per cent, while the AAP claims that it can be slashed by 50 per cent. Isn’t there any mechanism to bring relief to the peopleIJ
Cheap electricity and free water in Delhi is not possible. You can’t supply free electricity; after all, it costs money. But we do give subsidy to vulnerable sections — that is, those who consume up to 400 units. And that covers 78 per cent of Delhi’s population. Power tariff can’t be brought down because the cost of all components has gone up. Gas prices and purchasing price of power has also escalated. The only method, which we have been talking around, is to cut down consumption. We don’t believe in making promises that can’t be kept.
What about scarcity of potable waterIJ
Yes, water remains a problem. But please remember that Delhi does not have its own water sources. We get it from neighbouring States —Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Pipelines are being laid to provide water supply to each household and it is going to take time. Also, half a million people are added to Delhi’s population every year. The number is too big. We are working on plans to streamline this and ensure that everyone is accommodated.
Is there no solution to the problemIJ
There are several solutions: first, leakages have to be stopped. We have done a lot in this regard and we still are working on it. Second, we should now emphasise on the conservation of water. People use treated water for watering plants and lawns. That has to stop. Water is a rare commodity and going to become rarer. But I must tell you that nobody goes without water despite all the difficulties the Government faces.
Can’t we introduce recycling of sewage water to meet the increasing water demand in the CapitalIJ
Abroad, the system of recycling is a great success. In Israel, they are almost 80 per cent dependent on recycled water.
Yes, we have to start recycling water and that recycled water should be used at least for gardening, cleaning and washing and such purposes. In coming years, the government will surely be focusing on recycling of water in the city. In the next five years, we will certainly achieve this.