New Delhi:
In the next 15 months, ministers in the Sheila Dikshit government will get brand new bungalows, which will cost over Rs 10 crore.
The bungalows will have a built-in area of 1,500 to 3,000 square metres, each equipped with 6 quarters for domestic helps, 4 garages and additional office space.
But not all ministers are happy with this decision of Delhi government and think they should rather be focusing on the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
"Shouldn't the government focus on the Commonwealth Games arrangements. These bungalows can be built whenever," V K Malhotra, Leader Of Opposition, Delhi Assembly said.
Although Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit says she is not doing anything extraordinary. ''This is something that ministers are entitled to all over the country,'' she said.
Even for Delhi's Finance Minister A K Walia, this is a very small sum. ''Our total budget is Rs 23,000 crores and planned budget is 10,000 crores. Out of this, we're going to spend 10 crores on the houses. This is not that big an issue,'' he said.
The Chief Minister has warned residents of Delhi who're already reeling under rising prices that they need to brace themselves for higher taxes in 2010, ahead of the Commonwealth Games. Then there's the austerity drive ordered by the Centre. And now with the Delhi government announcing this bonanza for its ministers, Delhiites are not amused.
"Why should we pay taxes if they only want to construct bungalows for ministers. What about the bad roads and sloppy infrastructure? This is our money. It should be spent on development. The ministers anyway take care of their own prosperity,'' an irked Delhiite said.
The bungalows will have a built-in area of 1,500 to 3,000 square metres, each equipped with 6 quarters for domestic helps, 4 garages and additional office space.
But not all ministers are happy with this decision of Delhi government and think they should rather be focusing on the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
"Shouldn't the government focus on the Commonwealth Games arrangements. These bungalows can be built whenever," V K Malhotra, Leader Of Opposition, Delhi Assembly said.
Although Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit says she is not doing anything extraordinary. ''This is something that ministers are entitled to all over the country,'' she said.
Even for Delhi's Finance Minister A K Walia, this is a very small sum. ''Our total budget is Rs 23,000 crores and planned budget is 10,000 crores. Out of this, we're going to spend 10 crores on the houses. This is not that big an issue,'' he said.
The Chief Minister has warned residents of Delhi who're already reeling under rising prices that they need to brace themselves for higher taxes in 2010, ahead of the Commonwealth Games. Then there's the austerity drive ordered by the Centre. And now with the Delhi government announcing this bonanza for its ministers, Delhiites are not amused.
"Why should we pay taxes if they only want to construct bungalows for ministers. What about the bad roads and sloppy infrastructure? This is our money. It should be spent on development. The ministers anyway take care of their own prosperity,'' an irked Delhiite said.
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