Community halls: EDMC councillors not happy with Lt Gov order

Councillors of East Delhi Municipal Corporation today took strong exception to the Lt Governor's order taking away their power of having a say in booking of community halls and decided to meet him on the issue.
"The Delhi government is determined to take away the nominal powers we have and this is yet another example of it. We were never consulted on the issue before this directive was issued," said Congress Councillor Savita Sharma in a Standing Committee meeting here.
Receiving equal support from both her party and the ruling BJP, the councillors demanded a repeal of the order.
Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna in an order recently had said councillors will not have discretionary power in booking of community halls for social functions.

"This letter has come from the LG's office under a section of the Municipal Act where he can direct the Corporation to undertake a particular task or decision. We cannot refuse a directive under this and the Corporation has to follow it," explained EDMC Commissioner SS Yadav.
The committee members, still refusing to accept the directive, have now decided to meet the Lt Governor on the issue.
"The problem of common people not being able to get community halls or having to pay very high rates owing to monopoly of few has been raised several times. We will form a delegation to meet the LG on this dilution of power of councillors," said Standing Committee chairman Mehak Singh amid approval from both the ruling and the opposition parties.