The bureaucracy has taken over three months but failed to get ready with standard operating procedure (SOP) for scheme which may be an indication that the new dispensation lacks commitment for this. But Yamuna Rejuvenation Scheme has emerged as priority project where Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is playing the pivotal role to make it a grand success. The most interesting aspect is that a UP cadre officer and former DM of Varanasi Kaushal Raj Sharma (IAS: 2006: UP) has been brought in as CEO Delhi Jal Board.

Rs 3,140 crore has been sanctioned for sewage treatment plants and infrastructure development under this project. The MHA is working on the idea of a pollution free and clean Yamuna for Delhiites. It is pertinent to note that three Yamuna Action Plans in the past twenty years could not bring desirable outcome. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had himself announced that Chhath Pooja on the banks of the river will be held in clean Yamuna water and the MHA is now taking pro-active steps in this direction. The Yamuna River Front development initiatives are being taken under the guidance of the PMO and this is another significant step of the new BJP government in the city.

The Delhi government is facing multiple challenges all across from dilapidated roads, waterlogging issues during rainy season, pollution problem, scarcity of buses on Delhi roads, major hospitals in bad shape, closure of mohalla clinics, streamlining chaotic private schools to pressure to emerge as performing government on all fronts compared to AAP government that remained mired in controversy.

The Rekha Gupta government continued to provide electricity and water subsidy. She announced to start 1139 Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) that would replace mohalla clinics. This seems to be a better model to create primary health centres. Each centre will have ten staff including a medical officer, a pharmacist, lab technician and data entry operator.      

The Delhi government has decided to provide Rs 30,000 subsidy for installation of residential solar panels. This is to encourage use of renewable energy. The Delhi government is procuring 250 water sprinklers, machine integrated with anti-smog guns and 70 mechanical road sweeping machines. At least some effort will start in the right direction as huge pollution emanating from industry and vehicles plying on Delhi roads which still may may take several years to find an effective solution.

With over two crore population of Delhi, it has been facing major water crisis and this problem becomes acute during summer. Around two thousand unauthorised colonies are facing miserable shortage of potable water. The government needs to announce and frame a suitable policy to upgrade the life in unauthorised colonies by providing hospitals and schools. Similarly, sewage system in the Capital is forty-year-old and the city requires laying modern sewage system with extensive technical planning and infusion of modern technology. The cleansing of Yamuna and laying new sewer line all over the city may be a daunting task for the BJP government.

The city government has taken initiative to establish Brain Clinics in all eleven districts. It offers a comprehensive neurological care including screening, diagnosis and treatment of stroke, dementia, epilepsy and chronic headache. These eleven centres will be well equipped with multi-disciplinary team of doctors. First Brain Clinic was inaugurated by the Health Minister Pankaj Singh recently at the Indira Gandhi Hospital in Dwarka. This measure will count as the innovative idea of the BJP government. The entire government hospital facility needs upgradation in administrative machinery, better infrastructure, manpower induction and increase in capacity to meet the demand of huge population.  

Rekha Gupta has initiated the move to monitor the major PWD projects as well as desilting of drains. This is an immediate challenge as only 26 per cent desilting of drain has been completed so far. All major areas in the city got submerged during a pre-monsoon rain in Delhi in the month of May. So, the PWD and the MCD are lagging behind schedule in this crucial work when the rainfall is expected to be above normal in June. The hundred days celebrations are facing this litmus test.

The Vay Vandana Yojna announced and implemented by the BJP government for providing free treatment to elderly citizens above 70 years age is highly commendable scheme of the Delhi government. This will provide much needed health support to the ageing population.

The BJP government is planning a Mini Secretariate in all eleven districts and this will bring several diverse departments under one roof. This is a welcome move. But this requires to be implemented meticulously and bring the Single Window System for citizens under its ambit. So far, the single window system of the previous AAP government proved to be a disaster. The office clerks including private manpower deployed at this single window system were allegedly extorting the poor people arriving for help at these counters.   

The Rekha Gupta government is taking decisive steps to augment the pace of development. The industrial development and IT parks should be the high on the agenda to provide employment opportunities as well.