AAP Health Minister accuses municipal corporation for demolishing Mohalla clinics in Delhi

The Delhi government versus the city’s Municipal Corporations combat surfaces in public space yet again after Delhi’s Health Minister on Sunday tweeted accusing the North Delhi Municipal Corporation of attempting to demolish some of the Mohalla Clinics. The tweet also includes the image of an order copy issued by the Commissioner of the corporation, barring erection of porta cabins by Public Works Department, Government of Delhi on footpaths and pavements.

MCD planning to demolish some Moh Clinics saying its their land. These r temp structures n don't need permission pic.twitter.com/S9meaLA8Us

— Satyendar Jain (@SatyendarJain) September 3, 2016

The order signed on 5 August also said, “all such structures should not allowed to be erected on footpaths/pavements without approval of the corporation.” It also mentions that the Engineer-in-Chief had to file compliance report latest by 19 August so that the Mayor could be apprised of the same. But the Delhi Health Minister said in his tweet that these constructions are temporary in nature and do not need permission. Sanjiv Nayyar, the Mayor of North Delhi Municipal Corporation while talking to Firstpost on Sunday said that he was not targeting the Mohalla Clinics as alleged by the Health Minister but any construction obstructing the right of way has to be regularised. When asked how many Mohalla Clinics are on footpaths and pavements, he said that he had not received the report, that one that was to be submitted latest by 19 August. The stand-off between the Delhi Government and North Delhi Municipal Corporation on the issue of constructing Mohalla Clinics brings to light another impediment on the way of implementing 1000 such primary health facilities in Delhi. The Health Department is already pressed with the problem of lack of space to establish such large number of Mohalla Clinics which have now begun to construct the said dispensaries wherever space is available. But given the said order it is feared that these constructions will be demolished. When pressed on the question of outcome of Delhi Government not regularising the constructions, the Nayyar said he “do not know about the legal consequences. Only the engineers know it.” The frequent combats between Delhi government and the BJP run municipal corporations of Delhi is now seen as a bitter part of the capital city’s civic life.