B S Vohra - power activist in action on DAT - 2

B S Vohra - Power activist in action on DAT - 1

B S VOHRA - POWER ACTIVIST IN ACTION, ON DELHI AAJTAK, AGAINST THE EXPECTED POWER TARIFF HIKE.

Tata Motors New Launch Tata Nexon

Volunteers to keep an eye on open defecation : TOI

Volunteers to keep an eye on open defecation : TOI

NEW DELHI: Embarrassing as it may be, civil defence personnel will keep a sharp eye out for people relieving themselves in the open in early in the mornings in east Delhi. When spotted, the specially hired sentinels will walk up to the offender and issue a fine, especially to those who are found defecating within 500 metres of a community toilet or who has a toilet in the house.

This penal action is part of an elaborate programme planned by East Delhi Municipal Corporation to achieve the lofty target of making the eastern part of the city — one of the world's most densely populated residential areas — free of open defecation by Gandhi Jayanti, October 2 this year. The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act empowers the civic body to collect fine from people found defecating in the open.

"We are hiring around 50 civil defence personnel to deploy at a dozen locations," said Mohanjeet Singh, EDMC commissioner.

Most of EDMC's 64 wards are home to migrant labour living in illegally constructed multi-storey houses that have a few common toilets, forcing many to relieve themselves in the open. But there are others too. "I have talked to many families that plead they go out because using their household toilet requires a lot of water when they do not even have water supply in their houses," said Brajesh Singh, additional commissioner.

The civic body claimed that 40 of its 64 wards are free of open defecation, the bane noticed just in 20 wards, including Mandawali, Vinod Nagar, Vishwas Nagar, Anand Vihar, Krishna Nagar, Shastri Park, Seemapuri, Trilokpuri and Karawal Nagar. "Railway tracks in these areas facilitate open defecation," explained an official. Brajesh Singh added that CCTV cameras would be installed here to deter early morning offenders.

Meanwhile, BS Vohra, president of East Delhi RWAs Joint Front, pointed out that many community toilets are in derelict condition. And though these are almost unusable, he added, people still have to pay Rs 2 to avail them. The corporation has 86 community toilets and 386 public toilets, though these are not adequate for a population of 40 lakh. Poor civic sense too is a problem. As an official complained, "Anti-social elements steal mugs placed in such facilities and sometimes even take away the water tap from the community toilets."

EDMC has assigned 64 officers the duty of inspecting the condition of public and community toilets in each of the 64 wards. They will rectify problems and ensure that toilets have doors and running water, and are regularly cleaned.

The union urban development ministry is keen to meet its target of free the entire country of people relieving themselves in the open by October 2, 2019, 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

with thanks : Times of India : LINK

Power Tariff in Delhi ?

Secy DERC,

Viniyamak Bhawan, 

New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Amidst news reports that DERC will soon proceed for a hike in the Power Tariff, we hereby want to say that : 

DERC MUST ANSWER TO ALL THE ISSUES RAISED BY US AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, BEFORE PROCEEDING FOR ANY HIKE IN THE POWER TARIFF.

Mr CM / DY CM / Power Minister : 
We want to meet you in this regard. 
Please revert at the earliest.

Thanks,

B S Vohra

President,

East Delhi RWAs Joint Front - Federation

www.RWABhagidari.com

Waterlogging due to DJB pipe burst in Delhi

Boat on the road - a symbolic expression of anger in Delhi

Impact of waterlogging in Delhi

Kids as rag pickers in Delhi - Shocking

B S Vohra with RED FM RJ RAUNAC, KAVAY & ROHAN

Heavy rains have not yet lashed in Delhi & therefore PWD, DJB & MCD still have time to clean all the drains. They must take this in a positive manner and must take immediate steps to clean these drains so that Delhi is free from water logging. And no Blame Game please. Public is not that fool any more.

Step motherly treatment with authorised group housing societies ?

It is true that the Administration always gives step-motherly treatment to recognized and registered Cooperative Housing Societies who always follow meticulously all the provisions in the Cooperative Society's Act & Rules and are always answerable to them in every respect. It is a pity that they could not so far decide about the levy of property tax, understood that this will be decided by the middle of August and the last date may also be extended to September, what a loss of revenue to the EDMC, not undertaken any fogging in the colonies, nor cleaned the storm water drains, parks are not attended to particularly this is the season for rearing and planting saplings etc. so far, despite the fact that they are all ought to be programmed well in advance and by now execution completed in every respect! What else you could expect from the authorities concerned except to attending to unauthorised colonies, which are their vote banks, totally neglecting the law abiding people living in the authorised and recognized housing colonies! We can only seek and pray to the Divine's intervention to resolve all the problems being faced by us!!

With regards,

TK Balu/Anand Vihar

Illegal parking may cost you Rs 5,500 : Times of India : B S Vohra

DERC Public Hearing : Live Hindustan : B S Vohra

DERC Public Hearing : The Hindu : B S Vohra

Step motherly treatment with authorised group housing societies ?

There are thousands of cooperative group Housing Society in delhi which are authorised where Govt is providing no basic facility. and now they are planning to give basic facility to the unauthorised colony. govt is giving step motherly treatment to these cooperative group housing society. when these step motherly treatment will stop ? 

chander mohan navrachna appartment, delhi-110032

please read as below :

484 अवैध कॉलोनियों का प्रोफाइल तैयार, कॉलोनियों को नियमित करने पर मिलेंगी बुनियादी सुविधाएं

484 अवैध कॉलोनियों का प्रोफाइल तैयार, कॉलोनियों को नियमित करने पर मिलेंगी बुनिय...

नई दिल्ली
दिल्ली सरकार ने 895 कॉलोनियों को नियमित करने का प्रस्ताव तैयार किया था, उनमें से साउथ दिल्ली में स्थित 484 कॉलोनियों का प्रोफाइल तैयार किया गया है, ताकि कॉलोनियों को भविष्य में कभी नियमित होने पर लोगों को बुनियादी सुविधाएं तुरंत उपलब्ध हो सके। कॉलोनियों की प्रोफाइल रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक दिल्ली में कुल 1797 अवैध कॉलोनियां हैं, जिनमें से 1008 कॉलोनियां अकेले साउथ एमसीडी एरिया में हैं।

साउथ एमसीडी ने अवैध कॉलोनियों की जो प्रोफाइल रिपोर्ट तैयार की है, उसके मुताबिक साल 2008 तक दिल्ली में 1639 कॉलोनियां अवैध थीं। 2008 में इनकी सूची तैयार करने के बाद से अब तक 158 नई अवैध कॉलोनियां सामने आई हैं। नई अवैध कॉलोनियों को मिलाकर दिल्ली में अब अवैध कॉलोनियों की कुल संख्या 1797 हो गई है। इसमें अवैध कॉलोनियों की जो पुरानी लिस्ट थी, उसमें साउथ एमसीडी एरिया में 980 कॉलोनियां थीं। नई अवैध कॉलोनियों में साउथ एमसीडी एरिया की 28 कॉलोनियां हैं।

अफसरों का कहना है कि दिल्ली सरकार ने सितंबर 2012 में अवैध कॉलोनियों को नियमित करने का जो प्रस्ताव बनाया था, उनमें से 484 कॉलोनियां साउथ एमसीडी एरिया में हैं। इनमें से 220 कॉलोनियां निजी जमीन और 264 कॉलोनियां सरकारी जमीन पर स्थित हैं। इस रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक 1977 से 1994 के बीच दिल्ली सरकार ने कुल 567 कॉलोनियों को नियमित किया, जिनमें से 202 कॉलोनियां साउथ एमसीडी एरिया की थीं। अफसरों का कहना है कि दिल्ली सरकार ने जिन अवैध कॉलोनियों को नियमित करने का प्रस्ताव बनाया है, उन कॉलोनियों का प्रोफाइल पहले से तैयार कर रखा जा रहा है ताकि भविष्य में जब कभी इन कॉलोनियों को नियमित किया जाता है, तो यहां रहने वाले लोगों को बुनियादी सुविधाएं उपलब्ध कराने का खाका तैयार करने में अधिक समय न लगे।

RWAs up in arms over plan to hike power tariff

DERC gets an earful in its annual public meeting

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) on Wednesday held a public hearing on power tariff increase petitions filed by state distribution companies. The proposal for a hike was vehemently opposed by Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWAs) and political parties.

There has been no rise in power tariffs in Delhi in the last two years mainly because keeping the power rates low was a key agenda of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, which is providing ₹1,720 crore in power subsidy for the current financial year.

July 2014 was the last time that tariff was revised and the rates were increased by 5%. Since then, consumers pay ₹4 per unit for consumption of power up to 200 units, ₹5.80-₹5.90 per unit for 200-400 units and ₹7.30 per unit for 400 units or higher.

The meeting on Wednesday started at 9 a.m. and was attended by over 50 public representatives. The ‘Draft Business Plan Regulations, 2017, and tariff petitions’ was presented, which marks an important step in the tariff revision process, which started last month.

The final call on fare revision will be taken after the DERC goes through the suggestions of the public.

President of the east Delhi RWA,  B. S. Vohra said that instead of improving services, the discoms were in a rush to increase tariffs by displaying heavy losses in their books.

“Data shows that the growth rate of the consumers of the three discoms is around 5% to 6% per annum. Even if the peak demand is up by just 2%, there are outages across Delhi. Is this the business plan they have for the consumers?” he said.

‘It is a joke’

Saurabh Gandhi, general secretary of the United Residents of Delhi — a collective of RWAs — said that they were disappointed by the outcome of the public hearing due to the sheer apathy of the DERC towards the consumers.

“They strip people of the last penny but do not improve services. The meeting has become a joke,” he said.

Terming it a farce, the Delhi unit of the BJP boycotted the meeting while alleging irregularities by the AAP government. “Today’s hearing is a farce. It’s a big deception. There is concrete evidence of connivance of the Arvind Kejriwal government in the three power discoms of Delhi,” Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said in a statement.

with thanks : The Hindu : LINK

RWA's Condemn the Death of BSES Er. Abhimanyu Singh

It's really very sad that a BSES employee, Er Abhimanyu Singh died in an accident while saving himself from a chasing mob, in an Anti Power Theft drive, as per the news report. Four others were also injured in the accident and admitted in the hospital.

Though police version says that no one was being chased and it was a case of rash driving, DERC must come forward to investigate the entire issue and those from the power theft areas must be dealt strictly.

RWAs will prey for the departed soul with a request to DERC for a two minute MOUN, before the Public hearing tomorrow.

B S Vohra

President,

East Delhi RWAs Joint Front - Federation

RWA's Condemn the Death (MURDER) of Mr. Abhimanyu Singh by POWER THIEVES

RWA's Condemn the Death (MURDER) of Mr. Abhimanyu Singh by POWER THIEVES ...... wishing speedy recovery to others injured in performing their duty.

To

The Secretary,

DERC.

Dear Sir,

This is a sad day for Delhi, that Power Thieves are so emboldened to attack BSES Staff deputed to check Power Theft, that too under Police Protection.

WE REQUEST YOU TO PLEASE OBSERVE TWO MINUTES SILENCE BEFORE THE START OF PUBLIC HEARING to be held on 19th July 2017, to show solidarity with the bereaved family.

RWA's have for long protested the theft of Power By Vote Banks, as it affects the Tariff Structure of Honest Citizens. If the Government of the Day is unable to control such thieves then, one is tempted to suggest Snapping of Power to that area, but then that will impact the few honest Consumers in that Area.

We suggest the amount of Stolen Power should be deducted from the LAD Fund of the Theft Prone area's MP, MLA and Councillor so that Honest Citizens do not feel cheated. After all these are Vote Banks that are cultivated through such unfair means, how else do they get so emboldened?????

DERC should instruct the Centre to Redeploy CISF to protect BSES Staff in helping curb this menace.

Regards,

Rajiv Kakria

Member, GK-I, RWA

PS: Request all RWA's to send their condolence to the beareaved family through DERC.

RED FM 93.5 BAJAATE RAHO - B S VOHRA with RJ RAUNAC - BAUAA

We had demanded a Boat from the Delhi CM, for floating on the Delhi roads, during water logging, as the Delhi Assembly had announced that, drains were not cleaned by PWD. The issue was covered by Hindustan Times, DNA, Delhi Aajtak & many other agencies. Surprisingly, we got a call from the Top most RJ Raunac from Red FM 93.5, supporting our cause, and offering us an inflatable boat for the Delhi roads, during water logging. Please view the video, as below on the FB of RJ Raunac. It has got over 20 thousand views : Boat, Boat Shukriya : B S Vohra

Monsoon has come, but seems infrastructure is not yet ready in East Delhi.

Draft Parking Policy of Delhi Govt

Please refer to the advertisement inviting suggestions on draft parking policy for Capital City of Delhi.

At the outset I have serious apprehensions about the enforceability of the Draft Policy being prepared in view of the multiplicity of the authorities and lack of competence with the Department.

It is a matter of record that  the Transport Department of GNCT of Delhi has collected huge amounts every year towards one time parking charges from vehicles being registered every year towards construction/development of parkings in the Capital City that was transferred to Municipal Corporation of Delhi. However, till date we are absolutely clueless about the purpose for which said amount has been spent.

It is also matter of record the permits for Commercial Vehicles are granted on the basis of declaration by  applicant to the effect that the owner has parking space.

However, most of the Municipal parkings are occupied by such Commercial operators, instead of parking at declared space that eats away the parking space created for the visitors.

Apart from this despite Supreme Court Orders in IA No.13029/85 dated 20-11-1997, 10-12-1997 and 16-12-1997, based on affidavits filed by Transport Department, Delhi Police and Municipal Authorities that they would ensure that the extreme left of the road shall be earmarked for Bus Lane and shall not be allowed to be encroached upon.

The fact remains that the Municipal Authorities and Delhi Traffic Police have allowed and auctioned parkings on Bus Lane. Leave alone this, even the Chartered Busses  and tempos can be found parked in Bus Lane at night.

Further, it is also matter of record that both the Delhi Police and Municipal Authorities have failed to rein in the Car Dealers from encroaching upon the service lanes and foot paths all around the city. 

Traffic Police has also granted permits to Taxi Stands allowing parking on Foot Paths. 

Therefore, we have serious apprehensions on the whole exercise that is being done, without enforcing the existing provisions of parking created, while allowing multistoried complexes all around Delhi  that have been sold by the Builders and converted into shops.

First and foremost requirement is to  enforce the existing parking provisions that have been violated with impunity by one and all.

Thereafter the following steps need to be initiated without any delay:-

(a) Stop registration of vehicles till the Tour and Taxi Operators , Stage carriage bus operators and taxi stands shift to the declared space by them while applying for the prermits;

(b) Restore the parking space  that the Builders who have sold the as shops or offices;

(c) Remove the parkings from Bus bays, foot paths and service lanes and roads by the residents who have covered the parking space within buildings and park vehicles on roads

(d) Obtain the details from MCD the details of amount of one time parking charges transferred by Transport Department to MCD;

(e) Put in place a policy that till the time applicant provides certificate of possessing the parking space;

(f) Restrain the commercial entities to use the roads as parking space;

(g) Provide details of  space identified by Transport Department for developing parkings;

(h) Transport Department required about 11000 Buses way back in 2004 and till date it could not possess more than 5000 buses including cluster busses that violate all the laws on the roads. Therefore, please share the plan to achieve and acquire the required number of busses so as t encourage use  of public transport by the citizens;

(i) The Intermediate public transport system has collapsed as the TSR and Taxi drivers refuse to ply by meter and till date despite possessing ;'Khullar Committee Report dating back to 2002 wherein it was admitted that 80% of TSR are owned by Financial Cartel and corrective steps have not been taken at all.

(j) I had submitted detailed presentation on introducing technology driven solutions for enforcing laws instead  of posting Cops to chase the offenders and challan, or by hiding behind trees or poles to nab offenders, which has multiplied the corruption levels. These suggestions have not found favour till date;

(h) Sale of number plate to buyer - there is an urgent need to dispense with fresh registration everytime by owner of vehicle, which is root cause of corruption and the transport department can never have the real data of vehicles. Once a number plate is sold to any buyer. Once he/she sells the vehicle, such vehicle must be remove the vehicle from that plate and should be entered in the number plate owned by the buyer intending to buy the vehicle. This would create real time data of vehicle in the city, that would help in assessing the parking space requirement.

Further, before finalising the policy an opportunity of personal hearing may be granted to me.

In view of  the complexity of the issue and multiplicity of the authorities involved, I am marking copy of this mail to Hon'ble Lt. Governor, Delhi who is head of Delhi Police, DDA and UTTIPEC to look into the issues involved and bring all the authorities under one umbrella.

Anil Sood

Hony President - CHETNA

Parking Policy

I have already posted my response as per attachment. Delhi Government invites RWAs for discussions after it shortlists responses. 

The revered heads of the city Joint Fronts have made master pieces of their responses which should hit hard on the perpetrators of the scheme and set them thinking.

TV Channels like Mirror Now conduct debates on urban issues.  Why not the leaders of the Joint Fronts take up such issues regularly on  TV for wider awareness?

Regards,

D B Sood

RESPONSE/SUGGESTION ON DRAFT PARKING POLICY IN DELHI

The Dy. Commissioner (Operations I),

Room No: 208, 2^nd Floor,

Transport Deptt., GNCT of Delhi,

5/9 Under Hill Road,

DELHI - 110054

SUB: RESPONSE/SUGGESTION ON DRAFT PARKING POLICY IN DELHI:

Dear Sir,

Reference to your Public Notice in the Hindustan Times of today’s date, I take the opportunity to express my views as under:

I begin with a cautionary prelude that time is not far when frustration, super hypertension and road rage will drive motorists to commit suicides on roads like farmers in the fields. A total collapse of traffic management has begun to crawl in, already in sight. Over 2000 vehicles are added on the Delhi streets each day - wonder how many are shown the exit door. Car industry apparently cannot be dumped into the sea, but restraint on the speeding horse is necessary. The paradoxical situation is somewhat like patting the back and kicking in the belly. 

Car manufactures need to toe statutory warnings on cigarette packs: "Congrats for being the proud owner of this new car. By the time you change it, you would have either snuffed life out of your 100 fellow citizens or sent them to hospital beds". 

Making parking tough for motorists will have a cascading effect on the entire traffic management, including relief from traffic snarls and pollution control - the two deadly dragons overshadowing the entire spectrum of roads.

1.        Put a complete ban on parking on city main roads/highways above 60’ in width except in case of emergency or break-down, which can be prominently indicated by a reflective triangular stand supplied as an accessory with every new vehicle. Making these roads as VIP parking zones for elite who can dole out high parking charges ,will no doubt continue to keep the government’s revenue bed-rock warm, but the sole purpose of keeping roads free from obstructions would be partially achieved. Modern generation that is buying cars like never before and does not think twice before filling up petrol tanks, will soon acclimatize itself with the new parking norms howsoever prohibitive they may appear on paper. In spite of the onetime parking charges levied on new cars, people are still paying parking charges unchallenged. Moreover, it would be a daunting task for attendants to control cars parked on such long spans of unending serpentine roads with speeding vehicles of sorts. They would be risking their lives by racing up and down and missing the targets many a time. Let there be no dams in the free flow of rivers. Make these roads of 60’ and above in width NO PARKING NO HALTING zones for all types of vehicles.

2.             The paid parking scheme of 100/- per hour and Rs.50/- per subsequent hours could be applicable on roads having width between 50’ and 60’ as an experiment and for effective administration.

3.             For the present, let all Colony inner lanes below 50’ in width remain untouched by any parking scheme. The 35‘frontage of a plot of say 300 sq.yds that hitherto used to have a main gate of 10’ wide and the rest of the area barricaded by a compound wall, is now witnessing a sea change with the introduction of new building bylaws that have made stilt floor mandatory for parking. The entire frontage of such plots is now gated with compound walls preferred out. Every tenth building in residential colonies is being re-built and parking by outsiders in front of new buildings will not be possible. Parking issues in the Colony inner lanes are therefore, going to take care of themselves in a few years.

4.             Make it a norm of one car per family. It is easy to implement this by linking Adhaar card with the car Registration Certificate or by whatever foolproof means. 

5.              Investing in a car of say Rs.10L means losing interest of Rs.8T pm. and if it is driver driven, add salary Rs.10T pm. Petrol cost between Rs.5 to 10T pm. Facilitate commuters patronize OLA, UBER and the like. They work out much cheaper, are driver driven, tension free with A/C comfort, can be pooled and are constantly on the move. Creating parking yards for such taxis at odd sites like on top or the banks of open master storm water drains cutting throughout the city is not a daunting task. Smile will be retained on car manufactures as well as these vehicles would clock high mileage soon and need to be replaced within a few years.

Employment will also get a boost up.

6.             Companies, Government Institutions and the like should not provide chauffer driven company cars to their officers or staff and the practice of providing car allowance and rebates on purchase and maintenance of cars should also be abolished from the purview of Income Tax.

7.             With the city metro rail set to cover the range of kilometers from Delhi to Amritsar and buildings overlooking the tracks already declared for mixed land use, malls, health-care centres, motels, hotels, medical / education institutes, eating joints show-rooms et all are springing up at a rapid pace in these areas. With stations at an average distance of 2-3 kms, it is now convenient for citizens to hop and shop using the metro network. Public transport needs further revitalization for effective implementation sans personal vehicles.

8.             Adopt subtle means to discourage excessive use of cars by making residential Colony markets free of motorized vehicles. Reserve these areas exclusive for pedestrians and cycles. Convert wall bound Parks in  the local markets into open gardens merged with the landscape full of greenery, benches, kids modular play apparatus, open gyms, LED lights and  illuminated  advertisement boards and let the market associations maintain and secure these expanses. Vehicles running in lower gears in congested areas puff out more concentrated poisonous emissions.

9.              Government should be bold enough to remove all illegal encroachments, make-shift shrines and unauthorized kiosks, extensions in markets, from foot paths, road sides and public places for free flow of traffic. Enforce laws already lying in the closets and come down heavy on violators instead of playing politics. Why not ban plying of cycle rickshaws and the crude e-ricks in upper graded colonies? When NDMC and VIP areas can deliver results extend this example to A, B and C category colonies as a gradual expansion of traffic management that will also up the aesthetics of the city.

10.              Number of road signals need to be reduced on high profile roads causing more of harm. There are too many confusing direction boards dangling on these roads at different optic angles. All road signages should be just in two languages – Hindi, the National language and English International language. Overabundances of languages distract attention of motorists in high speed. 

11.             Schools were rightly earmarked in the Lay out Plan of every Colony like other services. We cannot uproot them now; but have to bear the worst out of the horrible situation emanating out of diesel school buses and private carriers. Accept the oft' forwarded suggestion as under:

(a)             Foremost preference to local kids.

(b)              For remaining seats extend the radius to 3 kms and stop at 5 kms max.  

(c)             Buses should load/off-load children within the school premises and all school buses should remain parked within the precincts of the schools.

With the changing times and exigencies of the situation, bitter pills have to be prescribed  and a holistic view covering all related aspects to parking have to be taken into account to achieve the goal. More colours need to be filled in a limited black and white picture.  

I have full confidence that the Delhi Government shall work in all sincerity and impartiality and that this Agenda will attain perfection with the inputs of the public that commutes on the roads night and day and can assess the situation with much more maturity.

Thanking you and with kind regards,

Sincerely,

{D.B. SOOD}  via email