07 May,2010 07:25 AM IST | | Surender Sharma
Teacher turned BJP leader Prithvi Raj Sawhney, who recently became the Mayor of Delhi, takes on the CM
He proved to be the proverbial dark horse. Faced with the infighting within the BJP, the 68-year-old emerged as
| In the driver's seat: Prithvi Raj Sawhney pic/Imtiyaz Khan |
How does it feel to be the Mayor of Delhi?u00a0
My party has chosen me for this job and I will do everything possible to live up to their expectations. It's a challenge and I will need cooperation from everyone.u00a0 And I am sure we will get support from all quarters. This post has some inherited responsibilities and I will try and live up to them, and deliver.
What would you describe as your priorities?
The Commonwealth Games are around the corner. Thousands of tourists would be visiting the city in the coming months. My priority will be to make Delhi clean and green so that the visitors go back with a picturesque image of the city. We will complete all CWG projects by June 30. Apart from that a project launched last year to change the condition of parks will be taken to the next level. We want good parks in every nook and corner of the city.
Thirdly, I want to improve the image of the MCD. There is a notion in the public mind that the civic body is corrupt. I am going to take remedial measures wherever possible. Above all, generating more revenue for the corporation will be among my top priorities. I am going to seek the Delhi government's help and I have already held meetings with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and she has been very forthcoming on various issues. Civic bodies are always aided by state governments. So, far we haven't got as much support from the government as we need.
Improving the condition of roads tops the agenda.
Don't you think a 1-year term is insufficient to prove yourself in a city like Delhi? Some other civic bodies have terms of 2-3 years for the mayor.
The term has been decided as per the MCD Act. I feel if somebody wants to perform, a period of one year is enough. But at the same time if more time is allocated, it will be good for the city.u00a0
How do you see Delhi's preparedness for the Commonwealth Games? Do you think the city is ready? Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit once said she sometimes feels nervous about the arrangements.u00a0u00a0
Organising the CWG is the biggest challenge for us. It is not only about the city's image, the prestige of the entire country is at stake. But I am not nervous like Sheilaji. In fact I am very confident of our preparedness.
Very often the MCD has been at loggerheads with the Delhi government. What's your take on this?
I met Sheilaji on Thursday. I feel both of us are working for the welfare of this city's people.u00a0 But I think there could be better coordination between us. And my impression so far has been that there is no confrontation. Ye sab chalta rehta hai....
The Chief Minister has often highlighted the city's limited resources and growing population. Would you agree with her stance?
You can't stop people from coming to the city. Delhi is the national capital. Everybody has a right to come here. What we can do is improve the civic amenities and not allow encroachment. Obviously, people will settle in nearby towns as well. Also respective states should improve the pace of development. People won't come, if they get better livelihood in their own states.
