Explaining the need for a police station to the newly constituted Standing Committee, Municipal Commissioner V.K. Duggal said the purpose was not to create a parallel police force but to check unauthorised construction and encroachment. He said that the enforcement staff of the MCD was dependent on the local police which ``often does not provide timely help'' resulting in large-scale unauthorised construction and encroachment.

He also pointed out that the MCD finds it difficult to conduct raids on offices where rampant corruption is alleged or where the residences of officials alleged to be corrupt have to be searched.

Duggal said that this police station, which would function under the overall supervision of the Director of Vigilance, MCD, could be likened to the Special Task Force. The police station would have an SHO, inspector, two sub-inspectors, a head constable and 10 constables, he added.

Voicing his objection to the proposal, leader of the opposition Dr Narendra Nath said that instead of checking corruption, this police station would become a den of corruption. He also said that members of the ruling party would end up controlling the working of the police station. BJP councillor Radhe Shyam said that it was unrealistic to expect that this team of 15 police personnel would be able to accomplish what the entire police force of Delhi has been unable to achieve.

Councillors Vijender Sharma and Ved Prakash Gupta wanted to know what had happened to the earlier proposal of employing two police battalions for which Rs 2 crore had been earmarked in the budget. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Standing Committee Shanti Desai instructed the commissioner to submit more details within 15 days.

The committee also discussed the proposal for accepting sponsorship offers from NGOs, the corporate sector and Resident Welfare Associations for providing better community facilities for slums in various sectors like health, environmental improvement, sanitation, education and welfare activities.

Reacting strongly, the leader of the Opposition asked the commissioner to submit a report on the status of parks in slums the upkeep of which had been given to NGOs. He also said that the House would soon become defunct at this rate as all work was being handed over to others.

The commissioner replied by saying that progress could be achieved only with partnership and there was nothing wrong in roping in the informal sector. He also clarified that only ``responsible'' NGOs would be allowed to provide this civic amenity. They would neither be allowed to build their offices in the premises and nor would they be paid any commission. He added that a committee, with representatives from the NGOs, MCD and councillors would be constituted to supervise the functioning and it would work as per the directions of the MCD.

Desai asked the commissioner to submit a detailed report on the subject within 15 days.

Earlier in the day, Shanti Desai was elected chairman and Rajinder Kaur, Deputy Chairperson of the Standing Committee. They defeated Congress candidates K.S. Gujral and Anand Kumar Gautam respectively. Desai has been elected for the second consecutive term.