Assembly's green flag to MCD-trifurcation Bill

"It is a historic day for Delhi as MCD is being split after about 50 years of its existence and I am confident it will result in better civic services to the citizens," Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said, after passage of the Bill.u00a0

The MCD is one of the largest municipalities in the world.u00a0

As per the proposed plan, MCD will be split into North, South and East Delhi municipal corporations and 50 per cent of the total 272 seats will be reserved for women as against the current 33 per cent. The north and south Delhi bodies will have 104 wards each, while the civic body in east Delhi will have 64 wards.u00a0The union home ministry had cleared the proposal last week, five months after receiving it from the government.u00a0

A directorate of municipal services, which will be controlled by Delhi Government, would be set up to coordinate functioning of the three new bodies. The municipal polls in April next year will be held under the new set up.u00a0

The Bill now will be sent to President Pratibha Patil for approval. "We will send the Bill to Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna, who will forward it to union home ministry, which will then send it to the President for assent," said urban development minister Raj Kumar Chauhan.u00a0

Leader of Opposition in Delhi Vidhansabha, V K Malhotra slammed the city government for trying to take away the powers of elected councillors by vesting almost all powers to the directorate of municipal services, which will function under the administrative control of Delhi Government.u00a0

"This is against democratic principles. Moreover, the Bill does not contain any details regarding the finances of the new bodies. The Bill has so many loopholes. It is incomplete. It is half-hearted," Malhotra said.