NEW DELHI: Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu said Tuesday the city’s challenges regarding pollution, waterlogging, law and order, and fragmented governance were not unique, and authorities were working to improve coordination, fix accountability and adopt technology-driven solutions.He also said govt was looking at developing Dwarka as an international business hub to ease pressure on the city by attracting multinational companies and foreign missions.Sandhu was speaking after delivering a talk on “The Rising Profile of Delhi as a Global Capital” at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia, where he took questions from journalists on civic and governance issues.Asked about Delhi’s chronic governance problems and whether multiple agencies were hampering solutions to issues such as pollution, waterlogging and civic services, Sandhu said, “A citizen doesn’t know whether it is MCD, PWD or DDA’s zone. When water is flowing, somebody needs to answer.” He added that accountability would be fixed. “There are people who are empowered, have the responsibility, and I can assure you we will have accountability. Give us some time.”On a question about Delhi’s recurring pollution crisis, Sandhu said it remained “one of our priority areas” and credited govt with initiating measures such as the EV policy. “Pollution is something that needs to be tackled…. There are a number of agencies involved in that. Hopefully, we will have a better winter this year,” he said.Responding to a question on whether Delhi needed a planned city in the NCR to accommodate its growing population, Sandhu said Dwarka had been identified as a potential international business district. “International companies want a Delhi address. Dwarka is very near the airport. We would like MNCs to open their headquarters there and are already talking to representatives of different countries,” he said, adding that infrastructure, security, drainage, hospitals and universities in the area would support such development.On Delhi’s global profile, Sandhu said: “Today Delhi has evolved not merely as the administrative capital of India. It is a vital node in global diplomacy, technology and informational networks, helping India expand its engagement with the world. This has not happened through a single event or policy. It is an outcome of sustained investment, diplomatic engagement, international summits and gradual integration of global technology and governance.”
