Moving a step further on taking the Municipal Corporation of Delhi under its wings, the Delhi government on Monday formed a three-member committee to study the proposal note forwarded by the Centre on Saturday.

The committee comprises Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta, Urban Development Secretary D M Spolia and a member from the legal department.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the government will send a reply to the note after the committee submits its report on Wednesday. “The committee has been asked to go through reports of various committees formed (earlier) to examine the issue,” Dikshit said after a Cabinet meeting held this morning.

The Biren Prakash committee and Balakrishnan committee are among panels that have looked at the issue.

The proposal sent by the Union Home ministry has reportedly listed 23 points for the government; it has charted out the government’s functions once the MCD is brought under it. As per points listed by the ministry, the Delhi government will have a direct say in matters pertaining to budget, money allotted to projects, the MCD commissioner’s appointment and changes in policy matters.

The Centre will retain its authority over issues like changing building bylaws, dissolving the MCD House, and even amending the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act, according to the proposal.

As per the proposal, while appointing the MCD commissioner the Delhi government can only recommend its options to the Home Ministry. The final decision will continue to lie with the Centre.

All changes will come into effect once given a go-ahead by the Centre, officials said.

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