Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Monday, April 8, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Mosquitos in storage tanks of AASTHA KUNJ
Respected Sir,
Mosquito is a most dangerous &
troublesome problem if we see its collective effects on the majority of
population.I tried to solve it since 1996.Till 1996 I used to see for breeding
of mosquito only in desert coolers &over head tanks.IN 1996 sep-nov some
10,000 people of delhi suffered from dengue ,400 died & thousands received
platelet transfusion.In nov 1996 when after the finish of dangerous spell of dengue fever when the mosquito
problem was still there though all desert coolers were dry I started to search
the drains of the hospital in which I was posted &with in minutes I found a
corner of drain with lacks of larvae of mosquitoes .I KILLED THEM ALL WITH
DIESEL.But my search did not end here .I kept on searching more & more places
& got good & surprising results.I discussed the problem with malaria
dept ,public ,mcd senior officials DHOs MHOs, deputy commissioners.No one except
workersa of malaria department had ever seen breeding in any other place then
desert coolers or over headtanks.No one knew what the malaria workers are
actually doing.I complained to malaria department about breeding in a drain in
front of my house & went to my duty place .When I returned I found that no
antilarval oil sprayed on the site of breeding in drain but my house was
fogged.I shouted at them as to why no anti larval oil sprayed .One of the
workers told a very surprising statement .Sir ,if there will be no mosquito
,what we will do?Picture became clear to me that it is waste of time to think
of getting work done by the malaria workers.But since it breeds only in
stagnant water & all larvae die if diesel is sprayed & it takes 4 days for the larvae to
become adult in water .So if every 4th day diesel is sprayed on all
breeding sites ,no adult mosquito will come out of water & adults mosquito will finish.And if
there is no mosquito ,there can be no breeding even if there is stagnant water
as it needs mosquito to lay eggs.
With this
knowledge ,I am trying my best to show breeding to people with the aim to
finish mosquito once for ever .For this awareness of public is necessary that
mosquito can be eradicated if they just look some places which can hold water
& if there is breeding in it ,to put diesel or get the water evacuated without
depending on the workers of malaria department.
In this
regard I examined the water storage tanks of AASTHA KUNJ a big park developed by DDA Near
kalkamandir & Bhaitemple.The large tank 20ftx40ft is having enormous breeding
since December 2012.It is easily identifiable by just peeping in the
tank.Millions or billions mosquitoes are breeding & flying t near by areas
of Nehru place ,kalkaji ,santnagar east of kailash ,kailash hill etc.Idonot
want that any body should be punished ,rather I wish that every person of DDA should go & see the larvae so that they
are aware that they have to look for breeding where ever they go.It is very
easy to finish breeding by just evacuating the tank for one day in a month or
put some two liters of diesel in it.
Now it is
upto you as to what action your good self take but I request that I should be
apprised of it
With due
regards
Dr VK
Aggarwal
A-7 EAST OF
KAILASH NEW DELHI 110065
Some points out of the CAG Report on working of Delhi Govt. :
DJB :
The
CAG says that the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), responsible for the territory's water
supply, has added only 1 MGD
(million gallons per day) capacity of sewerage treatment plants, while laying
about 900 km
of sewer line during 2007-12 with an
expenditure of Rs 1,634.18 crore.
“The
DJB had not prepared any perspective plan for sewage management for XIth five
year plan, and could collect and treat
only 367 MGD (54%) out of 680 MGD of sewage generated in Delhi,” the report
said.
Furthermore,
there was a lack of equitable distribution of drinking water within the NCT,
the CAG said, “due to lack of reliable data on population and water supplied to
different areas,” and the absence of comprehensive metering of water meant that
“less than 40% of water produced was
billed during last three years.”
"The
drinking water was not being distributed
equitably amongst the population due to lack of reliable data on population
and water supplied to different areas," it said
HOSPITALS :
In
New Delhi’s hospitals, “emergency
departments were not providing required services due to lack of essential
equipment, medicines and adequate staff,” the report said, adding that “all
the test checked hospitals were lacking in facility for purified and clean
drinking water.”
In
GTB, 31 medicines were not available for
a month last year while in Rao Tula Ram Memorial hospital, patients
complained that they had to purchase medicines from outside.
At Ambedkar hospital, the CAG found that 47 essential drugs were not available on many occasions during a period between 2009 and 2012.
More curiously, the CAG said that the 1000-bed Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital and LN (Lok Nayak) Hospital, “have been using ambulances, mainly for miscellaneous purposes instead of for the patients”, apart from the fact that these vehicles did not have “essential equipment for basic life support system”.
At Ambedkar hospital, the CAG found that 47 essential drugs were not available on many occasions during a period between 2009 and 2012.
More curiously, the CAG said that the 1000-bed Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital and LN (Lok Nayak) Hospital, “have been using ambulances, mainly for miscellaneous purposes instead of for the patients”, apart from the fact that these vehicles did not have “essential equipment for basic life support system”.
"The
OPD services were affected due to shortage
of medical equipment, medicines, injections, infrastructure and medical support
items. The Emergency Departments were not providing required services due
to lack of essential equipment, medicines and adequate staff," it said.
In a glaring shortcomings, it was found that five hospitals did not have blood banks while the license for blood bank was not renewed in GTB hospital.
Underlining issues at the Directorate of Health Services, the CAG reported that no construction work has started at the land sites for 10 hospitals, ranging in capacity between 60-700, that were allocated between 1997 and 2008.
In a glaring shortcomings, it was found that five hospitals did not have blood banks while the license for blood bank was not renewed in GTB hospital.
Underlining issues at the Directorate of Health Services, the CAG reported that no construction work has started at the land sites for 10 hospitals, ranging in capacity between 60-700, that were allocated between 1997 and 2008.
DELHI POLICE :
“Most
of the funds earmarked for
modernisation of Communication Branch of Delhi Police were not utilized,” the CAG said, “and as such, the modernisation
of communication network in Delhi Police was not achieved.”
“Physical implementation of Intelligent Traffic System could not be started as of March 2012 due to deficient planning, thereby, depriving users of benefit of world class traffic system in Delhi,” it added.
“Physical implementation of Intelligent Traffic System could not be started as of March 2012 due to deficient planning, thereby, depriving users of benefit of world class traffic system in Delhi,” it added.
TAX REVENUE :
While
the tax revenues of the state increased by 21% to Rs 3,494 crore, the report
pointed out short payment of value added
tax ( VAT ) amounting over Rs 2,321 crore.
CAG has blamed imprudent decision making of the Delhi government in not getting the insurance cover on the basis of current valuation of assets by Indraprastha Power Generation Company Limited, resulting in a loss of Rs 2.33 crore due to under insurance.
CAG has blamed imprudent decision making of the Delhi government in not getting the insurance cover on the basis of current valuation of assets by Indraprastha Power Generation Company Limited, resulting in a loss of Rs 2.33 crore due to under insurance.
The
non-tax revenue, which constituted 2.06% of total revenue receipts during 2011-12 decreased by 89% to Rs 3,728
crore over previous year, it added.
Besides, the report also mentioned that about 39% of the audited cable operators in the city failed to pay taxes for the past three years. Moreover, the state department of finance was unable to recover entertainment tax Rs 1.26 crore from 12 cinema hall owners and luxury tax amounting to Rs 9.76 crore from the hoteliers.
Besides, the report also mentioned that about 39% of the audited cable operators in the city failed to pay taxes for the past three years. Moreover, the state department of finance was unable to recover entertainment tax Rs 1.26 crore from 12 cinema hall owners and luxury tax amounting to Rs 9.76 crore from the hoteliers.
TRANSPORT :
The
auditor has criticized the department of transport for implementing the cluster
bus scheme, “without a well laid out
plan and concurrence of the Finance Department or Legislature.” The scheme
involved corporatisation of private stage carriage buses.
DELHI TRANSCO :
The
CAG also slammed Delhi Transco Ltd, a Delhi government company in-charge of major power
transmission lines, for not being able
to recover an amount of Rs 754.83 crore as transmission charge from BSES
Rajdhani Power Ltd and BSES Yamuna Power Ltd.
OTHERS :
On
implementation of projects under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal
Mission, the auditor said the city Government
could not utilise Rs 196.88 crore out of total grant of Rs 2823.18 crore.
"Construction
of 44,720 Dwelling Units had to be dropped due to non-availability of hindrance
free sites. Only 85 out of completed
10,684 DUs could be allotted to the beneficiaries," it said.
The auditor
said delay in taking decisions by the Government escalated the cost of construction of Signature bridge on river
Yamuna by Rs 672 crore.
more points will be uploaded soon.
Thanks
B S Vohra
New Rajendra Nagar body still does it the old way
NEW DELHI: With most residents' welfare associations ( RWAs) now behaving like quasi-authorities, there is one that remains cast in the old mould. The RWA in R-block, New Rajendra Nagar believes that civic agencies—not tax-payers—should be made accountable for services. It collects a nominal annual membership of Rs 100 from residents but tries to get them all essential services by building pressure on the civic agencies concerned.
"All we collect from a household is the annual membership fee. The RWA is not there to collect maintenance charges—that is the job of civic utilities. Our job is to ensure they do theirs. Residents already pay for basic services through taxes, and water and power bills, so why should anyone pay more?'' said D M Narang, general secretary of the association.
The RWA takes its task quite seriously. "Household trash is collected by auto tippers every morning. There is also a dhalao nearby where garbage is collected routinely. The 33 parks in the locality are maintained by the municipal corporation or individuals," said Narang, adding, "we try to get the work done by civic agencies on behalf of the residents. A large part of DJB's bill is sewer charges, so whenever there is a sewer related problem, we ensure DJB does the work".
The RWA gets the area discom, which maintains streetlights on behalf of the corporation, to keep them in order. For security, households pool in to hire guards for their lane while the RWA takes up problems with the local police.
Recently, the RWA has moved a proposal to increase the annual membership from Rs 100 to Rs 500. "There are approximately 1,100 houses in R-block. We do not pressure anyone to pay the membership fee, people pay willingly,'' said Narang.
"All we collect from a household is the annual membership fee. The RWA is not there to collect maintenance charges—that is the job of civic utilities. Our job is to ensure they do theirs. Residents already pay for basic services through taxes, and water and power bills, so why should anyone pay more?'' said D M Narang, general secretary of the association.
The RWA takes its task quite seriously. "Household trash is collected by auto tippers every morning. There is also a dhalao nearby where garbage is collected routinely. The 33 parks in the locality are maintained by the municipal corporation or individuals," said Narang, adding, "we try to get the work done by civic agencies on behalf of the residents. A large part of DJB's bill is sewer charges, so whenever there is a sewer related problem, we ensure DJB does the work".
The RWA gets the area discom, which maintains streetlights on behalf of the corporation, to keep them in order. For security, households pool in to hire guards for their lane while the RWA takes up problems with the local police.
Recently, the RWA has moved a proposal to increase the annual membership from Rs 100 to Rs 500. "There are approximately 1,100 houses in R-block. We do not pressure anyone to pay the membership fee, people pay willingly,'' said Narang.
with thanks : Times of India : LINK
For Bhandaris, it was a matter of principle
NEW DELHI: When the Bhandaris, O P and Aruna, of Munirka Enclave were dragged to court in 2006, they did not foresee becoming the face of a judgment that would bring the working of most residents' welfare associations (RWAs) in the city under the scanner. The couple took a stand to not pay their RWA for services provided by civic agencies. A local court's recent judgment in their favour will have ramifications for not only Munirka Enclave but also other RWAs across the city.
The Bhandaris' legal battle started in 2006 when the then RWA president, H C Saroha, filed a case in court. O P Bhandari, 72, says he refused to pay the RWA its Rs 200 maintenance charge as its services were "just artificially created". In 1990, when Bhandari shifted to Munirka Enclave, the charge was Rs 50; it has since increased to Rs 500 per month.
"I completely agree that there should be a body that looks after colonies," says Bhandari, a former employee of India Tourism Development Corporation. "It should look after common areas like staircases and shafts. But no such services are being provided".
He says the RWAs have no business charging for services like garbage collection, maintenance of parks, repair of drains etc as these jobs are done by the MCD. "RWAs have become bodies that collect funds from residents and waste them on unnecessary things. They have harassed us many times in between."
But the RWA denies these allegations. Its office bearers say they charge for services not provided by the civic agencies. They are contemplating contesting the court's verdict. "We have lost the case on some technical points but we do plan to contest it," said a senior functionary of the RWA on condition of anonymity.
"The Bhandaris do not pay for the colony's security that's not provided by DDA or MCD. Also, municipal workers are not always there for cleaning and maintenance," he added.
Saroha, the complainant, says the RWA funds ensure proper cleaning of the common areas. "The civic agencies look after roads and horticulture, but common areas like chutes, quarters for labourers, chowkidars etc are taken care of by the RWA. And the Bhandaris do not pay for these services," he said.
The Bhandaris' legal battle started in 2006 when the then RWA president, H C Saroha, filed a case in court. O P Bhandari, 72, says he refused to pay the RWA its Rs 200 maintenance charge as its services were "just artificially created". In 1990, when Bhandari shifted to Munirka Enclave, the charge was Rs 50; it has since increased to Rs 500 per month.
"I completely agree that there should be a body that looks after colonies," says Bhandari, a former employee of India Tourism Development Corporation. "It should look after common areas like staircases and shafts. But no such services are being provided".
He says the RWAs have no business charging for services like garbage collection, maintenance of parks, repair of drains etc as these jobs are done by the MCD. "RWAs have become bodies that collect funds from residents and waste them on unnecessary things. They have harassed us many times in between."
But the RWA denies these allegations. Its office bearers say they charge for services not provided by the civic agencies. They are contemplating contesting the court's verdict. "We have lost the case on some technical points but we do plan to contest it," said a senior functionary of the RWA on condition of anonymity.
"The Bhandaris do not pay for the colony's security that's not provided by DDA or MCD. Also, municipal workers are not always there for cleaning and maintenance," he added.
Saroha, the complainant, says the RWA funds ensure proper cleaning of the common areas. "The civic agencies look after roads and horticulture, but common areas like chutes, quarters for labourers, chowkidars etc are taken care of by the RWA. And the Bhandaris do not pay for these services," he said.
with thanks : Times of India : LINK
Hit by verdict, RWAs at a turning point
NEW DELHI: A local court's order that residents' welfare association's (RWAs) in colonies developed by Delhi Development Authority (DDA) cannot collect maintenance charges has put a question mark on the functioning of RWAs in the capital. RWA fees—variously called maintenance charges, membership fees, common service expenses or simply security charges—may soon be challenged by residents following the landmark judgment.
Most plotted colonies were developed by DDA and handed over to the MCD, whose offshoots—the three municipal corporations—are now responsible for their maintenance. But RWAs claim the corporations do a shoddy job so they have to look after local maintenance. Also, the charges are necessary for hiring security staff, they say.
"While it is fair to say that municipal corporations have to do the maintenance work and the state is there to provide security, the same is not true in practice," said Ashutosh Dikshit, member of URJA, an organization of RWAs. "If we left the maintenance of parks to MCD, they would be in a shambles," said Rajiv Kakria, member, GK-1 RWA.
The RWAs claim they need more funds to properly maintain their neighbourhoods but their present legal status is a hurdle. Dikshit says the associations are at present registered as societies under the Societies Act of 1860 which does not grant them statutory or legal protection. URJA is seeking statutory status for RWAs.
Kakria said although his RWA charges only Rs 100 per month, the fee is not compulsory. "In a year we collect about Rs 6 lakh from residents, which is insufficient. We had to let go of some of our colony guards as gardeners, sweepers and contractors also need to be paid. We also organize cultural events and there are costs for water harvesting."
The court ruled that RWAs can collect maintenance charges if they have been constituted for a multi-storey building complex (defined as a structure with four or more storeys of apartments) under the erstwhile Apartment Ownership Act. Most of the old DDA developed apartments do not fall in this category. Another condition about a pre-existing agreement between DDA and the RWA for collection of maintenance charges is also not applicable in most cases.
"We will hold a meeting of all RWAs on this issue. If need be, we might approach the higher court," said Amit Aggarwal, executive member of the Vasant Kunj RWA. "If the government does not want us to collect funds, it should provide us with necessary facilities," he added. The Vasant Kunj A-Block RWA, Aggarwal said, charges Rs 200 monthly to pay salaries of 17 guards and for other services.
While RWAs claim their existence is essential, many residents TOI spoke to said they pay membership fees not because of faith in these bodies but due to fear of boycott.
"When I pay house tax to the corporation, why should I pay extra money to any RWA for maintenance of colony roads, parks or streetlights? None of the RWAs gets its accounts audited and selection of members is arbitrary," said Pradeep Kumar, a resident of Lajpat Nagar. A south Delhi resident said, "Most houses have private guards, so why do we need to pay security charges? But if I do not pay, the RWA can make my life difficult by denying parking space, club membership or withholding important documents like IGL forms etc," he said.
A Sarita Vihar resident said, "I have lived here for more than a decade but am still reluctant to pay maintenance charges. The reason is lack of regular sweeping, poor maintenance of back lanes and a closed system that fails to engage residents in the management of their neighbourhoods".
RWAs, however, stress that the system based on maintenance charges has improved colonies. Gulshan Rai, executive member of the RWA in C2-Block, Janakpuri, said, "RWAs provide many basic services and funds are needed for these, but if someone does not want to pay, they simply don't." The RWA collects Rs 1,500 a month per household.
Most plotted colonies were developed by DDA and handed over to the MCD, whose offshoots—the three municipal corporations—are now responsible for their maintenance. But RWAs claim the corporations do a shoddy job so they have to look after local maintenance. Also, the charges are necessary for hiring security staff, they say.
"While it is fair to say that municipal corporations have to do the maintenance work and the state is there to provide security, the same is not true in practice," said Ashutosh Dikshit, member of URJA, an organization of RWAs. "If we left the maintenance of parks to MCD, they would be in a shambles," said Rajiv Kakria, member, GK-1 RWA.
The RWAs claim they need more funds to properly maintain their neighbourhoods but their present legal status is a hurdle. Dikshit says the associations are at present registered as societies under the Societies Act of 1860 which does not grant them statutory or legal protection. URJA is seeking statutory status for RWAs.
Kakria said although his RWA charges only Rs 100 per month, the fee is not compulsory. "In a year we collect about Rs 6 lakh from residents, which is insufficient. We had to let go of some of our colony guards as gardeners, sweepers and contractors also need to be paid. We also organize cultural events and there are costs for water harvesting."
The court ruled that RWAs can collect maintenance charges if they have been constituted for a multi-storey building complex (defined as a structure with four or more storeys of apartments) under the erstwhile Apartment Ownership Act. Most of the old DDA developed apartments do not fall in this category. Another condition about a pre-existing agreement between DDA and the RWA for collection of maintenance charges is also not applicable in most cases.
"We will hold a meeting of all RWAs on this issue. If need be, we might approach the higher court," said Amit Aggarwal, executive member of the Vasant Kunj RWA. "If the government does not want us to collect funds, it should provide us with necessary facilities," he added. The Vasant Kunj A-Block RWA, Aggarwal said, charges Rs 200 monthly to pay salaries of 17 guards and for other services.
While RWAs claim their existence is essential, many residents TOI spoke to said they pay membership fees not because of faith in these bodies but due to fear of boycott.
"When I pay house tax to the corporation, why should I pay extra money to any RWA for maintenance of colony roads, parks or streetlights? None of the RWAs gets its accounts audited and selection of members is arbitrary," said Pradeep Kumar, a resident of Lajpat Nagar. A south Delhi resident said, "Most houses have private guards, so why do we need to pay security charges? But if I do not pay, the RWA can make my life difficult by denying parking space, club membership or withholding important documents like IGL forms etc," he said.
A Sarita Vihar resident said, "I have lived here for more than a decade but am still reluctant to pay maintenance charges. The reason is lack of regular sweeping, poor maintenance of back lanes and a closed system that fails to engage residents in the management of their neighbourhoods".
RWAs, however, stress that the system based on maintenance charges has improved colonies. Gulshan Rai, executive member of the RWA in C2-Block, Janakpuri, said, "RWAs provide many basic services and funds are needed for these, but if someone does not want to pay, they simply don't." The RWA collects Rs 1,500 a month per household.
with thanks : Times Of India : LINK
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Tariff shock likely if discoms win appeal
NEW DELHI: Just when political parties are raising the pitch over bijli-paani issues, a newpower tariff shock looms large over the city. Sources said that power discoms BSES Rajdhani, BSES Yamuna and Tata Power Delhi have gone to the Apellate Tribunal of Electricity seeking immediate implementation of certain directions that the tribunal has ruled in their favour which the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission has con8tested in the Supreme Court.
Discoms said that till the time the SC grants a stay on any of the orders, DERC was duty bound to follow the tribunal's directions in tariff issues like pending dues to discoms worth over Rs 5,000 crores.
Power sector experts said that if the ATE ruled in favour of discoms, it could have a cascading effect DERC chairperson P D Sudhakar told TOI: "Whatever the ATE decides will be subject to the final SC decision. There are a number of ATE orders on tariffs which we have contested in SC and the hearings are still ongoing. If the ATE rules for discoms, certain dues will have to be paid to the power companies. But this will be spread over a period of time otherwise tariffs will rise drastically.''
with thanks : Times of India : LINK : for detailed news.
RWAs : join the Mega Federation of Delhi
RWAs, we hereby invite you to join the Mega Federation of Delhi. Please mail us your contacts to : rwabhagidari@yahoo.in
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