MP blames DDA for East Delhi’s ills

A: You must appreciate I have been an MP for only six months. There are 37 villages in East Delhi and I had ordered the construction of multi-purpose community centres for youth. I have already inaugurated 12 centres. Apart from this plans have been sanctioned for the construction of small bridges over a number of nullahs.

Q: Why has nothing been done about the electricity problem and the large scale power theft in East Delhi?

A: It is not that nothing has been done. It does not seem enough because of the magnitude of the problem. To prevent power theft we have legalised many connections and are charging money for the power consumed.

Q: East Delhi is considered among the dirtiest areas. Therehave been complaints of illegal abattoirs in the by-lanes. What have you done?

A: East Delhi is generally a low lying area and water logging is the root problem. And because of the mushrooming unauthorised colonies there is no proper sewage disposal system. I have sanctioned Rs 52 crore for constructing sewage lines in a number of colonies.

Q: East Delhi has few good schools and no parks for children to play. In fact the government schools have no furniture, building or boundary wall.

A: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is trying. I have ordered the construction of 1,000 rooms in various schools. There are problems and it will take time to solve them. Even we want parks for our children to play but the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is not under us and they seldom listen to us. If the BJP is elected to power in the Centre too the situation will improve.

Q: East Delhi is very congested and transportation is a major problem. What are you doing about it?

A: Cyclists and buspassengers face the maximum problem in east Delhi and they are all my people. I have ordered the construction of a cycle track from Wazirabad all along the Pushta so that the cyclists are not crushed by the motorists. Nowhere else has this been done.