“We are a little concerned about preparing in time for the Commonwealth Games”

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit in an exclusive interview to Hardnews

Sanjay Kapoor Delhi

These days Delhi has become synonymous with urban chaos and seems ill prepared to host any international event of the scale of the commonwealth games. But the person in the eye of the storm seems surprisingly unfazed. Delhi’s Chief Minister Sheila Dixit is unperturbed. She is confident that the Capital would be ready with dedicated power and water supply and top class urban infrastructure by 2010 - when the city hosts the commonwealth games. Dixit was all grace and eloquence when she met the Hardnews team on a hot summer afternoon to share her vision of Delhi and how it was preparing itself for the big event.

On the Commonwealth Games and the infrastructure of Delhi

Delhi is the host city for the Commonwealth games. Frankly, I am a little worried because we have very little time and it is not easy to construct and procure in three years’ time. A stadium has to be made. We have to upgrade the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium as well. There is a debate on the building of a quality swimming pool. We also need upgraded cycle tracks.

The prime minister, the government of India with all its ministries and the Delhi government are all concerned. All the planning is underway. Dedicated water treatment plants for villages have been set up. A sound transport system for effective commuting for the masses is also being planned. The Delhi Metro should be 60 odd kms long by then. I am confident that all will work out well.

On the power and water crisis

It is not just Delhi, the whole country is going through a power and water crisis. Hopefully by the year 2009, Delhi will obtain additional 2000 MW. In the coming four years, we will be able to manage the distribution of water much better than we are doing today. The situation may have not become better but it is certainly not worse. We have not come to a crisis. In about eight to twelve months you will see a drastic change.

On water and the World Bank proposal

There is enough water. What we need is better management and effective distribution. The World Bank had indeed asked us to do a management study. But we are quiet clear that they are not going to manage the whole thing. Management will remain with the Delhi Jal Board. It is a misconception harboured by some NGOs that we are transferring power to the World Bank. They are building and operating it for the next ten years. By no means does this indicate that they have taken over the water.

On water and neighbours

Haryana will not give an extra drop of water. UP will not give us water. We support the neighbourhood, they do not support us. It is a very complex situation. All that I can say is that Delhi is important and yet not important enough…Delhi has supported millions. Lakhs of people are coming in from all over. Money is generated here. Schools, colleges have been opened and this attracts people to this metropolis. It is not about the government, it is about the system.

On the privatisation of power

I think it most certainly has been a success. Previously, the whole system was falling apart. For example, the capacitators were not installed in the right places and there were other such difficulties. It is much better now.

Sometimes the fault is also of the management, people do not pay because they do not get their bills.

The major changes Delhi needs

Security is a major concern. Transportation is another, as it has to improve and has to cater to everyone. We have to explore the kinds of transportation we can provide and the implementation has to be smooth.

Building Delhi as a world city

Comparing Delhi’s situation with Melbourne and other cities will not be fair. For example, the city of Melbourne has a population of only about four million. I am not saying that Delhi cannot match them in the near future. Let me assure you, we are working towards it even though nothing is visible to the ordinary person. The critical thing is always the implementation.

On Delhi’s growth

Delhi is an ever-growing city with about 105 million people. In spite of all the problems, it remains the most comfortable city in the country. I think this city has grown well. The flyovers, buildings, roads, offices among others have attracted people from outside. Nobody wants to get out of it. And if truth be told, it has become a model for the rest of the country.

The main concerns

Frankly, I am worried about air pollution and the Yamuna. Above all, I am very worried about the housing.

On the housing problems of the marginalised sections

I want you to know that housing for the marginalised, the weaker sections and the lower class is the responsibility of the DDA, and DDA is not under us. We are short of 6 lakh dwellings. If we work harmoniously with both the private and public sectors, we can achieve the goal in the next five to six years.

On the nuclear power plant proposal for Delhi and the demand for power

Well, as of now there are no such proposals. We are going to have two tie ups for 2000MW and for 500MW. The situation is very different from 1991. When we came in 1999, consumption in Delhi was 1900MW. Now it is about 3800MW. Both demand and consumption were a lot less. However there is a tie up with Dadri and in three years time Delhi will obtain 490 MW from the Dadri power station. Today, in Delhi you are without power for only 2-3 hrs. There used to be a time when Delhi used to be out of power for 8-10 hours.

On the demolitions

It was an embarrassing situation but we had nothing whatsoever to do with it. What can we tell the people? The courts realised later on that it is the responsibility of the MCD and the DDA. The DDA does the planning and the MCD takes care of the implementation. Where does the Delhi government come into the picture?

On corruption

The problem is that people lack accountability. MCD is accountable too. All these organisations are kept away from the people as well as the ground reality and hence they can manipulate it. We are a state whose hands are bound at the back. I think we seriously have to look at what we're going to do with Delhi's administrative setup.

On the people

Unfortunately, the people have become a little pampered. The mindset has indeed changed. Moreover the essential problem with corruption is that it cannot be checked. There is scarcity of moral fibre. But there are the straightforward, honest people like Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in whom everybody believes... and we need many more like him.