Sher

ADDRESS

OF

SHRI B. L. JOSHI

HON'BLE LT. GOVERNOR, DELHI

TO

The Third Delhi Legislative Assembly

(Budget Session)

01st MARCH, 2006

            Respected Speaker and Hon’ble Members,

  I extend a warm welcome to all of you to the Budget Session of the Legislative Assembly of Delhi for the year 2006.
  In my address last year, I had shared with you my vision of making Delhi a modern global city through good governance practices to enhance the quality of life of the citizens and to put the city on a fast track of development. This continues to be our goal. Towards this end we have been greatly encouraged by some national and international recognition that has put our city on the global map. I am proud to inform the Hon’ble Members that 'Bhagidari': the Citizen-Government Partnership initiative of our government received the United Nations Public Service Award 2005 for improving transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in Public Service from 215 entries worldwide. At the national level, we were adjudged the Best e-governed State in the Northern Region this year. We received the India Powertech Excellence Award for our achievements in the power sector, the Golden Icon Award in the National Conference of E-Governance, 2005 and the Bronze Icon for exemplary leadership & ICT achievements, 2006 in the educational sector. A National Award for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities was given by the Hon’ble President of India to the Dilli Haat and Crafts Bazaar of the Delhi Tourism in public recognition of creation of barrier free environment for persons with disabilities. These are indicators that our efforts are in the right direction.
  Two historic opportunities have emerged before us at the same time–the Commonwealth Games 2010 and the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) recently launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister. The Games will provide us with the unique opportunity to develop and showcase our services and infrastructure. This is a big challenge that our government has taken up in right earnest in close collaboration with the Union Government and their agencies. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission has two sub-missions for ‘Urban Infrastructure and Governance’ and ‘Basic Services to the Urban Poor’, which are quite relevant for Delhi and provide us a unique opportunity to move forward. Working with the Mission will also give us a platform for initiating reforms in a number of areas of urban planning and management.
  Key infrastructural projects will now be taken up on a mission mode to facilitate a quick, time-bound, cost-effective and professional take-off in the crucial sectors. The details of the administrative and legal framework of the mission teams, capacity building of officers and mobilisation of financial resources to fund and finance the infrastructural projects are being worked out. At present we are ready with our Sonia Vihar Water Treatment Plant and are striving for an early release of raw water from Tehri Dam to supply drinking water to East and South Delhi areas. In the meanwhile structural changes within the organisation are being taken up. Water conservation, water harvesting and recycling of sewage are priorities. Basic services to the water deficient areas and poor settlements would continue. On the power front, our government is planning to sign an MOU with NTPC for setting up of a 490 MW power plant in Dadri from which Delhi would derive 90% of power. This will give Delhi greater operational freedom during power shortages in the Northern Grid. The Chairman of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission is in place. The power distribution companies have set up their consumer grievances redressal forums. We are according the highest priority to the concerns of our consumers.
  A study commissioned by our government through RITES on “Integrated Multi Modal Public Transport” for Delhi has identified 575 Km corridors for different modes of transport, which includes High Capacity Bus System, Metro Rail, LRT, Monorail and Integrated Rail corridors. All the three corridors of Metro Rail included in the first phase have been commissioned. Work on Phase II has also commenced. Construction work for the High Capacity Bus System Corridor from Dr. Ambedkar Nagar to Delhi Gate is to be completed by next year. There will be a separate path of 450 Kms. for pedestrians and cyclists. We are introducing modern urban low floor buses to encourage people to switch over to public transport. Delhi is the only city to have all Pollution Checking Centres computerised and recalibrated to read existing tail pipe emission as per existing norms and procedure. Delhi is proud to be a city with the largest number of public transport vehicles running on CNG. The construction of the Western and Eastern Peripheral Expressways, new flyovers, widening of the Ring Road, foot over-bridges with escalators are being prioritised. Despite the phenomenal growth in vehicular population, there has been significant improvement in ambient air quality. Sulphur Dioxide levels have fallen, concentration of SPM, Nitrogen Oxide and RSPM have also registered a marked decline. Efforts of our government to increase the green cover from 54 sq. km in 1998 to 261 sq. km. in 2003 have also largely contributed to this marked improvement.
  In the field of administrative reforms, the benchmarking of government services has been initiated by way of a Social Audit of government services by an independent agency, Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore. A new initiative with the corporate sector for bringing in corporate funding and managerial skills to upgrade civic delivery systems and infrastructure is being worked out. We propose to further strengthen our participatory system of ‘Bhagidari: the Citizen-Government Partnership’ in the coming years by bringing citizens to the centrality of the planning and budgetary processes and by expanding the spatial spread of the programme to involve people living in unauthorised regularised colonies, slums and JJ clusters. It is our firm belief that a citizen’s first contact with a government agency must be pleasant. Creating comfortable and visibly pleasing ambience in and around public dealing offices is critical for achieving this objective. The website of Delhi government now allows people to file applications online in respect of certificates issued by the offices of Deputy Commissioners. The Tender Information system has been developed to make the tender procedure transparent. The National Informatics Centre is implementing the work of setting up Delhi State Wide Area Network. This will help us to transact business with citizens online and receive payments from them electronically in near future.
  Opening of new schools, upgradation of existing schools, construction of class rooms through the new plastocrete technology of portacabins have been taken up. Computer education has been introduced in all the Government and aided schools and students of Pratibha Vikas Vidyalayas provided with access to the Internet. “Computer Aided Learning” an in-house learning module has been developed as a teaching aid. Online admission to schools was started this year, which has resulted in additional response in enrolment of students to class VI. The Vidyalaya Kalyan Samitis have activated community interest and participation in the day to day functioning of the schools. Attendance of teaching and non-teaching staff is marked on-line. To promote education of girls our government has decided to provide them free education, textbooks, uniform subsidy and stipend to girl students up to class XII irrespective of parental income. To train girl students in self-defence, female physical education teachers have been imparted training by Delhi Police under Project “Raksha” and they have in turn trained over two lakh girl students. The facility of providing cooked mid-day meal has been extended to Government Aided schools from this year. The 50/75/100 years old heritage schools of Delhi were honoured with cash payments. ‘Culture Quest’, a unique initiative to build bridges between student communities in different countries through video-conferencing and other web based activities was formally launched. A path-breaking school adolescence education programme, ‘Yuva’ aimed at providing holistic intervention in physical, mental, spiritual, academic, cultural and nutritional areas was launched. A decision has been taken to involve other government agencies (Delhi Tourism Transport Development Corporation, Delhi State Industrial Development Corporation, Irrigation & Flood Control) in the construction and maintenance of school buildings for purposes of expediency.
  In the field of higher education our endeavour is to oversee that professionally managed affiliated institutions impart quality education. Keeping in view the changing needs of the industry and increasing share of service sector in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a perspective plan has been prepared for growth of quality technical education in Delhi at all levels from ITI to Degree and Post-Degree levels. On the sports front, the Education department is working out a comprehensive sports policy. Successful organisations of cultural festivals, developing another Dilli Haat at Pitampura, and heritage preservation have been some of the highlights of our tourism sector. A Signature Bridge at Wazirabad is being designed and construction of the bridge will begin this year.
  We have attempted to strengthen the public health care system and to make the services of secondary, tertiary and super speciality hospitals within easy access of people. We have begun indoor services at the Acharya Bhikshu Hospital, Moti Nagar; Bhagwan Mahaveera Hospital, Pitampura; Sardar Patel Hospital, Patel Nagar; and Satyawadi Raja Harishchander Hospital, Narela. The Institute of Liver & Biliary Sciences (ILBS), Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences and Delhi State Cancer Institute are being developed into centres of excellence. Five super speciality hospitals and ten other hospitals are under different stages of construction / commissioning apart from up gradation of major hospitals like Lok Nayak, G B Pant, Guru Nanak Eye Centre, Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital. Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalya and Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedker Hospital, which are partially functional, shall be made fully functional. Construction of the Trauma Block at DDU Hospital has been completed. Hospitals at Dwarka, Burari and Ashok Vihar, and the Institute of Indian System of Medicines at Khera Dabar are in the planning stage. DDA has been requested to allot land for setting up Hospitals at Tuglakabad, Badarpur, Ambedkar Nagar, Hastsal, Keshav Puram / Lawrence road and Mahipal Pur. Six new dispensaries have been opened. It is proposed to open more Allopathic, Ayurvedic, Unani and Homeopathic dispensaries. An Ayurvedic Institute for Research and Studies is proposed to be built at Khera Dabar in Najafgarh. Not a single case of polio has been detected this year as a result of the concern shown by our government for the successful implementation of the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme.
  Our government attaches top priority to the welfare of the poor and marginalised. The Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act, has been implemented, thereby making available social security benefits to poor construction workers. The Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme has been launched for industrial workers under which DSIDC is developing extremely cost-effective multi storied flats for industrial workers in all the new Industrial Estates starting with 3000 flats in Bawana. Our target is to construct 40,000 more such low-cost houses before the Commonwealth Games. Our government has provided additional funds for provision of sweeping and scavenging services in about 488 unauthorised colonies. We have recommended to the Government of India in-situ development of slums and construction of vertical low-cost tenements through cooperative or public private partnership for the relocated slum dwellers. The scope of the scheme ‘Improvement of SC/ST Bastis’ has been revised and activities and construction and repair of roads, side drains, Chaupals and Barat Ghars have been added making development of such bastis comprehensive. The pace of the various schemes for the educational, social and economic development of the SC/ST/OBC and minority communities has been accelerated. The State Policy on Senior Citizens has been finalised in consultation with the stakeholders. A Senior Citizens Council has been constituted to aid and advise the Government on all matters of welfare of senior citizens. The welfare and empowerment of women has been followed up through the Stree Shakti scheme and the Gender Resource Centres. Community participation in the Integrated Child Development Schemes impetus to Mahila Mandals, sanctioning of additional Anganwadi centres and welfare of street children have been taken up.
  On the rural front, the rates of land compensation for acquisition of agricultural land have been increased in 2005 after 2001 by 40%. The Rural Development Board has taken key decisions for initiating important projects in Delhi including the setting up of mini sewerage treatment plants in rural villages to treat the generated waste water to prevent village ponds and water bodies from environmental degradation. Proposals for modernisation of Azadpur Market, new grain market at Narela, and new fruit and vegetable market at Ghazipur are also in the pipeline. On the issue of relocation of polluting industries in residential and non-conforming areas, new industrial areas have been developed. To minimise dislocation of industries in residential / non-conforming areas, 45 industries have been included in the list of household category. Initially sixteen non-conforming clusters of industrial concentrations of minimum 4 hectares contiguous area having more than 70% units under manufacturing activity / use have been considered for redevelopment. The National Institute of Jewellery Design & Technology has been set up, which will provide well-trained human resource to the gems & jewellery industry.
  We have managed our finances well. We have boosted revenue mobilisation and maintained a low fiscal deficit. We have enforced expenditure discipline and prioritised public investment to enhance outlays in physical and social infrastructure. Our government has also successfully introduced the Value Added Tax (VAT) regime from April 1, 2005. Contrary to all apprehensions about revenue loss due to introduction of VAT our revenues posted a record growth of 31% by January 2006 over the corresponding period in last year, which is amongst the highest in the country. It not only shows acceptance of VAT but also indicates a growing voluntary compliance. It has been our endeavour to facilitate tax compliance by introducing innovative ideas. Our commitment is reflected in some unparalleled provisions in the Delhi VAT Act, like refund within 30 days, annual and half-yearly return for small dealers, composition schemes for hard to tax sectors, and higher threshold of Rs. 10 lakh to protect petty traders. It is the progressive and trade-friendly features announced by the Government that has made VAT acceptable in Delhi.
  While the city is witnessing an impressive economic growth, upgraded and complementary infrastructure both in the residential and commercial areas must also keep pace. This would require an intelligent use of horizontal and vertical space coupled with amendment of the existing laws. Though constrained by the multiplicity of authorities and their overlapping jurisdictions and lack of control over land and planning, our government has consistently advocated low-cost housing projects with basic facilities to meet the shortage of residential accommodation in the capital. In the context of orders of superior courts over demolition of illegal structures, our government has clarified and fully supported that as a first step encroachment on public land and new unauthorised constructions be dealt with. An abiding solution would lie in the quick finalization of the new Master Plan for Delhi. The consultations are on by taking into account the urban planning process, the rural profile and other ground realities of Delhi. Towards this end, our demand for grant of statehood for Delhi in keeping with the resolution passed by this august Assembly needs to be fulfilled. While the city is witnessing an impressive economic growth, upgraded and complementary infrastructure both in the residential and commercial areas must also keep pace. This would require an intelligent use of horizontal and vertical space coupled with amendment of the existing laws. Though constrained by the multiplicity of authorities and their overlapping jurisdictions and lack of control over land and planning, our government has consistently advocated low-cost housing projects with basic facilities to meet the shortage of residential accommodation in the capital. In the context of orders of superior courts over demolition of illegal structures, our government has clarified and fully supported that as a first step encroachment on public land and new unauthorised constructions be dealt with. An abiding solution would lie in the quick finalization of the new Master Plan for Delhi. The consultations are on by taking into account the urban planning process, the rural profile and other ground realities of Delhi. Towards this end, our demand for grant of statehood for Delhi in keeping with the resolution passed by this august Assembly needs to be fulfilled.
  Our Government has in the past seven years worked towards upscaling basic infrastructure and improving the quality and efficiency of public services. We have endeavored to ensure equitable distribution of public goods for the poorer and marginalised sections. We have attempted to work within the framework of stakeholder partnerships countering the growing public perception that it is the government’s job alone to solve the city’s problems. The momentum that has been built up has to be capitalised and consolidated still further so that we can benchmark our attainments to international levels. This is the challenge for the years to come and a challenge that we accept with all humility as a part of our duty to the people of Delhi.
  I have broadly outlined the important policies and programmes as also the thrust areas identified by my Government for implementation. The Finance Minister will spell out the details in his Budget speech.
  I wish you all success in your deliberations.
JAI HIND !!
 
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