MCD commissioner assures UPSC aspirants of redressing their grievances

New Delhi [India], July 31 : Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Commissioner Ashwani Kumar met a delegation of UPSC aspirants at the agency headquarters on Wednesday amid protests following the deaths of three students at a coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar in Delhi.
A total of 28 students met the Commissioner with their suggestions. The Commissioner had an elaborate discussion and assured students of the proper redressal of their grievances.
According to the press release, students have requested that a legal framework should be created to address distortions in rent, security deposits and brokerage charges that are being levied by property owners/dealers in the area. The Commissioner has appreciated the concern and pointed out that a necessary legal framework is desirable.
Ashwani Kumar emphasized the urgency to decongest the residential areas, that are turning into ghettos so that students do not face any infrastructural bottlenecks in pursuing their dreams. He suggested the expansion of coaching centres in developed areas.
One of the major demands of the protesting students was financial assistance for the families of three students who passed on in the tragedy. It was noted that ex gratia as per government norms has already been released. Students requested further assistance, and their suggestions were taken note of.
Another issue raised by the students was related to unhygienic kitchens and food caterers in the area. Ashwani Kumar has directed the public health department to make a regular visit to such food joints and kitchens to check their hygiene conditions. He emphasized that this should be done in coordination with students to have the desired results and not result in corruption or inspector raj, the press release added.
Student delegation flagged the problem of hanging wires and poor drainage system in Karol Bagh Zone. It was decided that MCD would request DISCOMs and the Power Department to resolve the problem of hanging wires. With regards to drainage, he stated that MCD in the area has already started to reclaim encroached drains and improve the drainage system.
The students stated that after the closure of libraries in basements, library operators are trying to raise rents. The Commissioner took a serious view of such an approach by the unscrupulous library operators who are trying to benefit from a tragedy. He also advised the students to shun the use of libraries in basements for their own sake as it is risky.
Other civic issues like proper maintenance of public toilets, encroachment of roads by unauthorized parking, stray dog menace, and squalid condition of alleys in the locality were also flagged by the students. The Commissioner gave instructions to concerned MCD officers to redress them.
The meeting ended with the Commissioner advising students to remain in touch with MCD and other agencies to resolve the issues effectively.