Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Civic bodies step up measures to check dengue outbreak in National Capital - DNA

In a bid to resist another dengue outbreak in the national Capital, the civic bodies have stepped up measures to check mosquito breeding in both residential and isolated areas. From conducting anti-larval activities to door-to-door visits, all three Delhi Municipal Corporations -- North, East and South -- are trying to leave no stone unturned this year. However, residents say that they are not aware of any such activities in their areas.

With complaints of excessive mosquito breeding pouring in from across the Capital, the civic bodies say that they have increased the frequency of their door-to-door visits in the past few days. "We have been receiving numerous complaints of an excessive rise in mosquitoes in Delhi and following which we intensified our measures to tackle the issue. More such activities will be done in the coming days," said Yogendra Singh Mann, spokesperson for North and East civic bodies.
"Anti-larval activities are ongoing near the Yamuna and areas that have stagnant water points such as open drains. Anti-malaria teams are on their toes and they have intensified their door-to-door visits to check mosquito breeding," he said.
Meanwhile, residents claim that they are not witnessing all these activities in their localities. "I have seen no one from the authorities, taking rounds in the colonies to keep a check on the state of drainages and dumping grounds. If the authorities don't come to the ground and see the sorry state, how can they provide a solution for the issue?" asked JR Gupta, president, Senior Citizen Council of Delhi.
Echoing the sentiment, BS Vohra, president, Federation of Residents Welfare Association, said, "Just because the authorities fail to complete their duty on time, the residents all over Delhi have to suffer. Lakhs of rupees are wasted on medical check-ups. Moreover, the ways to curb this problem is also not carried out in a proper manner."
Explaining the reason behind these complaints, officials at the civic bodies claim that over 55 percent of the posts including malaria officers, malaria inspectors, field workers and domestic breeding checkers (DBCs) have been lying vacant for the past two years. "With such a less staff, it is a challenge to have ground inspections of every area which increases the possibility of breeding going unchecked. This raises major concerns for public health," said a senior officer from the North Corporation.
A massive outbreak of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya has taken a toll on public health over the past two years.

Sunday, April 8, 2018

Interactive online platform for the RWAs on the Official websites - Tweeted the request to all

Hon'ble LG Saab, CM Delhi, MCD mayors,

Dear Sir,

NDMC has introduced an interactive online platform for RWAs on its NDMC311 App as well as on its official Website.

May we request to all of you for a similar interactive platform on the Hon'ble LG Website, Delhi Govt Website, MCD websites, to accommodate the RWAs, for regular interactions, for the betterment of the city.

Thanks,

B S Vohra,
President,
East Delhi RWAs Joint Front - Federation
www.RWABhagidari.com

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Inspite of very serious & shocking issues in the ARR petitions of DISCOMs, New Power Tariff expected today

Inspite of very serious & shocking issues in the ARR petitions of DISCOMs, they are going to announce the Power Tariff today at around 3pm. Shockingly, we the stakeholders were not at all informed/intimated about the Public hearing. We strongly oppose any such move of DERC. Let DERC announce the New Tariff, we will share the Shocking issues with the Media.

Do they have the right to collect the Conversion as well as the one time parking charges?

As per the Bare Act of DDA, ”Escrow Account" means a dedicated savings account held by the Local Body concerned not being operative unless the conditions for which it has been opened are fulfilled in accordance with the provisions of these regulations”.

In such a case how Civic bodies either diverted the Amount collected under this Account for other establishment expenditure including salaries or failed to use most of the amount, is a very serious cause of concern for one & the all.

Various newspapers have reported:

Escrow account
However, the data submitted shows that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi collected Rs. 1,128.72 crore from 2006-2007 till 2011-2012, but only about 8% or Rs. 101.39 crore was spent through the escrow account on developing the areas or creating parking. The majority of the fund or Rs. 1,027.33 crore was spent on “other establishment expenditure”, which includes salaries.
MCD split
After the MCD was split into three in 2012, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation collected Rs. 643.41 crore from 2012-2013 to 2016-2017. Only Rs. 28.19 crore was spent on escrow expenditure, while the remaining Rs. 615.22 crore was spent on other establishment expenses.
While the North Corporation diverted the majority of the funds, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) failed to use most of the parking and conversion charges it collected. From 2012-2013 till 2016-2017, the SDMC collected a total of Rs. 1,125.05 crore, but the expenditure from the escrow was Rs. 146.87 crore. Currently, Rs. 925 crore is available in the account, SDMC data shows.
The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) collected Rs. 166.02 crore in conversion charges and Rs. 49.95 crore in parking charges from 2012-2013 till 2017-2018 (till now). The EDMC data showed that the civic body spent Rs. 8.38 crore of the parking charges on developing parking, while Rs. 18.16 crore was spent on salaries and Rs. 23.40 crore remained unused. We are trying to find out the status of the rest of the Rs 166.03 crore.

with thanks: The Hindu: Damini Nath

In such circumstances, do you think that our Civic bodies have any right to collect the Conversion as well as the one-time parking charges?

It was said earlier that no development charges for parking shall be payable by small shop owners of the area up to 20 sqm. dealing with the items/activities as defined in para 15.6.3 of the MPD-2021 in respect of any category of colonies.

But now, development charges for parking are being demanded even from the small shop owners. Is there any such change in the Act?

It was also said earlier that Development charges for parking shall also not be payable by owner/ allottee/resident/user of the plot/dwelling units falling under notified pedestrian shopping streets both mixed-use or commercial pedestrian streets.

Please check the Links depicting Pedestrian Streets of Delhi that were Notified in the Delhi Gazette on 15th September 2006. You can easily find out if you are on a Pedestrian street & if you are being charged for all such development charges?

Identification of Pedestrian Shopping Streets in West Zone

 

Identification of Pedestrian Shopping Streets in South Zone

 

Identification of Pedestrian Shopping Streets in Shahdara South Zone




 

Identification of Streets for Pedestrian Shopping Streets in Karol Bagh Zone

 

Identification of Pedestrian Shopping Streets in Civil Line Zone

 

Identification of Pedestrian Streets Central Zone

 

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

MPD-2021

The issues mentioned in the Proposed modifications of DDA as well the Affidavit submitted with the SC say the same story. Even the Draft parking policy is there in it even before any discussion on various clauses. They just want your money by way of various Taxes, be it the GST, Road Tax, Toll Tax, House Tax, Conversion charges, One-time parking charges as well the proposed parking charges in the draft policy. And even after paying all such Taxes, there is no Job security, no social security and no benefits to the residents in the form of at least the health services even in this most polluted city. Do anything by paying under the table & get it regulated by paying over the table. Just this is the reason for all the mess in this city. The CRUX of the problem is, that none is serious enough to take care of OUR CITY. 

Sunday, March 18, 2018

The unlivable city that is the Capital of India !

There is no doubt that Delhi has become unlivable due to excessive pollution, traffic jams & congestion. The RWAs just want that situation betters & not worsens. Traders too need some respite from sealing at this most crucial period, though they are responsible for all the encroachments in almost every market that causes jams leading to pollution. 



"It's our city & all of us must act sensibly & come forward to give a life to this unlivable segment of land else the coming generations will never pardon us". 

B S Vohra, 

Environment Activist, President, 
East Delhi RWAs Joint Front - Federation

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

DDA’S AFFIDAVIT ON MASTER PLAN AMENDMENTS WEAK, SAY RWAS: Hindustan Times

NEW DELHI: Terming the affidavits filed by the Delhi Development Authority as ‘weak for planned development in the city’, Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) have urged the monitoring committee to study them properly and raise their concerns in the Supreme Court.
In a joint statement released by a group of RWAs running the ‘save our city’ campaign, residents raised doubts over the scientific analysis and study being conducted by the authority over the impact of the amendments on quality of life and environment.
“In its justification, DDA said it has gone for the vertical growth in tandem with international practices. But vertical growth depends on various geographical factors such as the seismic zone of a city, its proximity to sea for free flow of air and availability of water,” said Rajiv Kakria, member of Greater Kailash I RWA.
“Besides, arrangements for sewer disposal, power supply and parking to cater to the increasing commercial growth also need due attention. I don’t think these factors have been considered at all,” he said.
On Monday, DDA had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court regarding the proposed amendments to the Delhi Master Plan -2021 in order to provide relief to traders from the sealing drive.
“The DDA in its affidavit said its Act does not mandate environment impact assessment for modifying the master plan. This kind of response is unacceptable from any land owing agency. It doesn’t instil the confidence that DDA is capable of doing its job,” said Anil Sood, president of Chetna, an NGO.
The RWAs said the DDA should modify its Act and only after that they should go for any change in the master plan.
“The authority (DDA) must remember that Delhi has become the most polluted city and everything to be done in this city must be regulated by the environmental norms,” said BS Vohra, president, a federation of East Delhi RWAs.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Environment Impact Assessment by DDA



If DDA act does not mandate environment impact assessment for notifying the master plan, it's the DDA act that must be modified at the first instance & only after that they should go for any change in the Master Plan of Delhi. DDA must remember that Delhi has become the most polluted city & everything to be done in this city must be regulated by the Environmental norms.

B S Vohra

Environment Activist, President,
East Delhi RWAs Joint Front - Federation
www.RWABhagidari.com

*pic used with thanks to Times of India