How Delhi can change under new governance

By Deepak Parvatiyar

February 18, 2015

At least three news items, within a couple of days of the Aam Aadmi Party taking control of Delhi, catch attention:

Government water tankers reaching those parched unauthorised localities of the national capital that they had never visited before

Early morning cleaning of drains in some other unauthorised colonies, which was a rarity

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The Delhi cabinet deciding, in its very first sitting on 16 February, to ban demolition in residential areas

So hasn’t the new government in Delhi made a small but good beginning? Obviously the water tankers in localities like Sangam Vihar – considered Asia’s largest unauthorised colony — and scooping of garbage in yet another unauthorised colony, Sanjay Colony, clearly see the new government’s stamp.

In fact, all these three initial moves of the government cater to a crucial segment – the unauthorised colonies of Delhi. Obviously the AAP had identified them as their major vote bank and had sought to woo them with a promise to regularize and transform these unauthorized colonies. That the party got into action from day one of forming its government to work towards its poll commitments in a measured way sounds good.

Banning demolition in residential areas a tall order

However, the task is not all that easy. Consider the third item in the above mentioned list that is about the Delhi cabinet’s decision to ban demolition in residential areas. Isn’t this just a public posturing given the fact that the Delhi government does not at all own any land in the national capital? Besides, the Delhi Special Powers Act 2008 already stipulates that no illegal colony that came up till 2009 could be demolished in the city state. What makes the Delhi cabinet’s decision sound preposterous is that the order does not have any binding on the Delhi Development Authority – that has the power to acquire, hold, manage and dispose of land and other property in the national capital – for demolition of illegal structures that came up after 2009 because any such decision on demolition needs to come from the Union Home Ministry and that the AAP government simply had no say in such matters.

Former chief secretary of Delhi, Shailaja Chandra, recently pointed out that there are “some 60 matters relating to municipal governance that cannot be administered without the acquiescence of the Union government”. Therefore, even if the Delhi government moved an amendment and got it passed in the state assembly, it could not become law unless the bill was approved by the Lieutenant Governor (LG) and the ministries of urban development and home affairs and received the assent of the President.

These are the inherent limitations of the Delhi government since Delhi is yet not accorded full statehood.

The question thus arises that for how long can such public posturing really work for the AAP? Before taking up the issue,  it seems pertinent to refer to yet another move of the AAP government – On 16 February, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal directed the state finance and power departments to “immediately send their proposals” to bring down power and water bills in Delhi.

Remember “Bijli half, paani maaf” (Water will be provided free while power tariff will be reduced to half) was a catchphrase of AAP’s poll campaign? This was yet another such tall promises that won the day for the AAP this election.

Kejriwal wanted 700 litres of free water to every Delhi household every day for which the state exchequer will have to cough up Rs 260 crore for water annually. Yet there is another aspect – the supply could still not match the promised figure because of about 45 per cent leakage in water distribution system.

Similarly, power subsidy would cost the exchequer about Rs. 1,500 crore per year and isn’t this much of an asking considering that the provision on energy in Delhi’s total plan outlay in 2014-15 was just Rs 700 crore?

Already questions are being raised on how the AAP would raise money to meet its 70 poll promises in view of the fact that the non-planned expenditure (that goes for payment of salaries etc.) constituted 52 per cent of the total budget of Delhi in 2014-15.

Modi’s dig at Kejriwal

Another twist in the tale is the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s (against whom Kejriwal had contested and lost the last general elections in Varanasi) recent dig at Kejriwal’s pre-election promises to reduce power and water tariffs. Modi took a jibe saying he wondered how such promises could be made in states which were dependent on electricity from outside.

It may be mentioned that Delhi, which has a power demand of about 5,000 MW, is largely dependent on other states to meet its requirements. The AAP has promised setting up a power generating plant in Delhi and it involves many issues including environment clearance. Still even to set it up requires one full term of the present government.

Hence, the Prime Minister’s message was terse – “During every election, political parties promise free power. People need to think about these promises.” He went on to add that the cost of water too was “basically due to the cost of power”.

Yet there are many such populist promises – to install 10-15 lakh close circuit television cameras, reduce VAT (which is the major source of revenue accounting for about 67 per cent of Delhi’s earning)  etc. Its promise to accord full statehood to Delhi actually requires Constitutional amendment!

The party claims whatever it has promised are “well thought and we do have a blueprint for them”. It maintains that its 70 point plan is not “airy promises”, but “actionable”. It claims the promises are the outcome of its much touted ‘Delhi Dialogue’ with all citizens during elections; that they meet the aspirations of all sections of society and are “attainable”.  AAP leader (now Deputy CM) Manish Sisodia even told the media: “We calculated and it can be practically implemented.”

But this again seems public posturing considering that even the AAP realises its hands to be tied in view of the intricacies involving the composition of Delhi administration.

Consider how it reacted to the PM’s above mentioned jibe over reducing electricity and power tariffs! Its leader Ashutosh said he would “request” the PM help make electricity affordable, “because that will do a lot of good for the people of Delhi”.

Besides, if the party had already chalked out a blueprint, then why CM Kejriwal called for suggestions from the concerned departments for halving power tariff till the audit by comptroller and auditor general was completed?

Apparently the AAP has its heart at the right place when it talks of reflecting the aspirations of people from all walks of life, and of providing power, shelter, food, water and education to all. Yet, governance is a different ball game all together. Its real test has begun now and it is to be seen how Delhi can change under new governance.