After transferring all the bureaucrats who were considered close to former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Arvind Kejriwal is now set to scrutinise her “useless” decisions and projects. The Delhi CM mentioned that he is considering cancellation of many projects.

“Many decisions and projects of the former government are useless. A number of small projects are under scanner. We are going to cancel them very soon,” he told Deccan Herald.

Referring to Dikshit’s “fancy” projects, Kejriwal categorically said the people of Delhi need piped water and sewer lines.

“What Delhi needs is piped water connection and sewer lines. It will be done as soon as possible. I have two priorities—Jan Lokpal Bill and decentralisation of departments in Delhi for a smooth governance,” he said. 

When asked about the details of projects which are supposed to be closed, Kejriwal said, “Wait till the budget session of Delhi Assembly. I will tell everyone.”

If he acts as announced on Tuesday, the plan of purchasing Commonwealth Games Village flats for bureaucrats and projects like the delayed Rohini power generation plant may end up facing the axe in the Budget session.

Dikshit defended the stand of former Congress government claiming that the government during her tenure took no unnecessary decision.

“Whatever we did was for the city’s progress. We have not taken any decision which was not required. Do they want to take the city forward or backward?” she asked.

She also suggested Kejriwal and his team to stop criticising the former government’s decisions and instead work for better change.

“They keep saying that the condition of schools is bad. How is it possible when Delhi government’s schools are faring best in the country. They claim that the condition of hospitals is bad but they do not see how many people from all across the India approach Delhi for treatment. They should work for a better change rather than criticise,” he said.

On the issue of water shortage, Kejriwal is still waiting for a response from his Haryana counterpart. The issue of getting 80 million gallons a day (MGD) of water released by Haryana after the commissioning of Munak Canal four years ago remains unresolved. The earlier government had also failed to convince Haryana on this. Kejriwal, however, seems hopeful.

“Yes we have problems with the neighbouring state of Haryana over water. In a letter to the Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, I have sought time for a meeting over this but they have not responded yet,” he said.