The Hindu      12.09.2014 

Govt. plans beautification of Delhi

Water-logging, bad roads, and dirty parks may soon be history for Delhiites as the Urban Development Ministry along with civic agencies is working on a plan to clean and beautify the Capital.

Taking a step further towards the ‘Clean and Green Delhi’ drive, Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday discussed the plan with officials of the Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Jal Board, the three municipal corporations, and the New Delhi Municipal Council .

Mr. Naidu said that the general public's perception of management of public places and utilities is poor and it should be changed though a special drive.

Among the measures discussed at the review meeting , the most important ones were removal of malba from the roadside, anti-water logging measures, repair and painting of roads and footpaths, and cleaning and facelift for urinals.

Out of the total Delhi Urban Area of 44,777 hectares, 8,722 hectares is under green/recreational land use. Of this, 5,050 hectares is with the DDA (42 per cent).

The DDA , the nodal agency for the beautification of Delhi, has been given the responsibility of tree plantation, streetscape improvement , increasing number of streetlights, installing street furniture and public conveniences besides reviving 59 water bodies and building toilets in parks and public areas.

The DDA will upgrade facilities in 25 children’s parks, play fields in 80 parks, construct open gyms in 20 parks, and come up with more shelters, food kiosks, open spaces and plazas.

Knowledge Parks for children would also be promoted by the DDA. One such park for differently-abled children will be developed at sector 21 in Dwarka at a cost of Rs. 14 crore.

Five bio-diversity parks developed by the DDA would soon be opened to the public.

Mr. Naidu urged all the organisations to designate officers for coordinating and monitoring the clean and green activities.

The Minister also asked the Delhi Government to evolve a strategy to address the issues relating to beggars, rag pickers, homeless, and migrants.