Another landmark decision -in the row of previous cases of Justice finally being delivered to India. The news has been covered by Media very suitably - by TOI, HT and perhaps everybody else.
However, the judgement and the event calls for some circumspection. One of the reports above (TOI one) quotes the lawyer for MCD saying "Potholed roads were not reason enough for commuters to drag the agency to court. This isn't the test for giving damages against civic bodies. We only charge house tax; no road cess is levied by us. In any case, just because one pays taxes everything can't be perfect. People will start rushing to courts everytime"
?!?!?!
What the guy is actually saying is that MCD be allowed to work shoddily or in other words -it should be let to discharge its duties with a reasonable (?) amount of error. Great. I think people can agree to a reasonable amount but just that and no more. However, what Delhi is left with is "roads in potholes" and not "potholes in roads".
Delhi's roads are made with least attention to two most important things i.e. drainage and design. While Drainage is essential to carry rainwater to its rightful place (Harvesting wells), design elements like slope etc are very essential to make sure that water pouring on roads is quickly transferred to the drains i.e. if they exist in first place.
Roads form an essential part of civil infrastructure, as much as electricity or water or communication systems. If the nation has to progress, its citizens should be entitled to a friendly road system and not one that punishes -which is what every person today feels, not only in Delhi but in every urban part of the country.
These roads are made from money paid by taxes by individuals and companies which is akin to a salaried person paying charges every month to government out of his salary to ensure that his basic needs get taken care of. If the same is not ensured by government and its various departments, then people should not minding going to courts for the pettiest of discomfort.
I'd rather suggest that MCD and other agencies start treating themselves as service organisations and in order to improve themselves, should open their doors to people who find a problem in the city. It should be willing to pay fine for every lapse reported which can go in a trust meant for other civic bodies or whatever.
This may sound fanciful but then India story is unfolding, Justices are delivering and taking people/agencies to task for committing wrongdoings and we never know when one person at the top of such an organisation may volunteer to lead his organisation to its goal, i.e. to serve the taxpayer (rather every Citi Zen).
However, the judgement and the event calls for some circumspection. One of the reports above (TOI one) quotes the lawyer for MCD saying "Potholed roads were not reason enough for commuters to drag the agency to court. This isn't the test for giving damages against civic bodies. We only charge house tax; no road cess is levied by us. In any case, just because one pays taxes everything can't be perfect. People will start rushing to courts everytime"
?!?!?!
What the guy is actually saying is that MCD be allowed to work shoddily or in other words -it should be let to discharge its duties with a reasonable (?) amount of error. Great. I think people can agree to a reasonable amount but just that and no more. However, what Delhi is left with is "roads in potholes" and not "potholes in roads".
Delhi's roads are made with least attention to two most important things i.e. drainage and design. While Drainage is essential to carry rainwater to its rightful place (Harvesting wells), design elements like slope etc are very essential to make sure that water pouring on roads is quickly transferred to the drains i.e. if they exist in first place.
Roads form an essential part of civil infrastructure, as much as electricity or water or communication systems. If the nation has to progress, its citizens should be entitled to a friendly road system and not one that punishes -which is what every person today feels, not only in Delhi but in every urban part of the country.
These roads are made from money paid by taxes by individuals and companies which is akin to a salaried person paying charges every month to government out of his salary to ensure that his basic needs get taken care of. If the same is not ensured by government and its various departments, then people should not minding going to courts for the pettiest of discomfort.
I'd rather suggest that MCD and other agencies start treating themselves as service organisations and in order to improve themselves, should open their doors to people who find a problem in the city. It should be willing to pay fine for every lapse reported which can go in a trust meant for other civic bodies or whatever.
This may sound fanciful but then India story is unfolding, Justices are delivering and taking people/agencies to task for committing wrongdoings and we never know when one person at the top of such an organisation may volunteer to lead his organisation to its goal, i.e. to serve the taxpayer (rather every Citi Zen).
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1 comment:
CIvic bodies should be more responsible and take their job much more seriously. The day this happens, India will leapfrog to developed nation's league for sure.
Courts should issue strict guidelines of standards expected out of them
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