Delhi votes for better civic amenities

New Delhi, April 15 (IANS) Better sanitation, roads, education, health and other civic amenities were on the minds of people from all hues who came out to elect councillors in the trifurcated Municipal Corporation of Delhi Sunday.

"Like last year, I have come here to vote so that we get better civic amenities in our area," said 37-year-old voter Sandeep Gandhi who exercised his franchise in ward 160 in Lajpat Nagar.

The streetlight in my area was fixed a few weeks before election. I want a councillor who provides good services through out the five years and not just ahead of polls, he said.

Balesh, 80, with her left hand in a sling struggled to reach the polling booth in Tukmeerpur ward in east Delhi.

"It may be my last vote but I will cast it for the improvement of road in my area," Balesh told IANS.

Many voters welcomed the Delhi government's decision to split the civic agency into three parts.

"I hope that with the concept of three civic bodies the delivery of services would be better. Our ward will come under south corporation. I hope the new system brings some change in our ward," said Nuzhat, 40, a resident of Jamia Nagar in south Delhi.

Imran Khan, another area resident, complained that voting was an exercise in vein.

"I have seen Jamia Nagar for the past 22 years and nothing has changed. The problem of sewage, water supply and garbage has remained as it is," said Khan, a civil engineer.

A total of 2,423 candidates from various political parties are in the fray for 272 seats in three newly formed corporations.

While the corporations of north and south have 104 wards each, the east Delhi corporation has 64.