The Indian Express 05.07.2013
Having spent crores on paver blocks, MC to stall new proposals
MC has spent more than Rs 20 crore on paver blocks. Defying its policy time and again, and tweaking it as per convenience, the civic body has installed the concrete structures in every nook and corner of the city. In fact, a majority of the agenda items that are approved every year pertain to paver blocks.
After being reprimanded by the UT Administration, it was decided that they would be laid only in areas where it was required.
There have been several instances when the structures after having reached the site of installation have been found to be of poor quality.
Councillor Arun Sood said, "Paver blocks are in the unscheduled list of items, so the rates are not fixed. Apart from this, these are causing damage to the environment. Groundwater level is receding, as water cannot percolate down. There is no check on the quality of material used".
These were first installed in the city in 2003. For the purpose, money was allocated from Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds. Gradually, as the budgetary allocation of the civic body increased, the concrete structures also witnessed a rise. At present, these are put on pavements, near market and around parks. These are also eating into the green spaces.
Local MP Pawan Kumar Bansal has also expressed his reservation at its indiscriminate installation. Earlier, they were laid just on one side of V-5 roads. Then it was decided that it would be installed on both sides. Now, these have also been laid on V-6 roads, as well.
Councillors have been indulging in a race to get them installed in their wards. A majority of the agenda items in the meeting of the Roads committee, as well as a substantial part of the meeting of the House, revolve around it.
Recently, in narrow lanes, instead of roads being carpeted it was proposed that paver blocks be laid. The work that began in Manimajra was stalled after residents staged a protest. A similar proposal was mooted for Mauli Jagran that is at present in deep freeze.
Councillor Saurabh Joshi said that there was a need to look at alternate ways of beautify the city. He added that these should be a part of the Master Plan, a vision document for the coming years.
It is now being contemplated that a meeting with the councillors would be held and they would be requested not to insist on laying any more paver blocks.
Mayor Subhash Chawla said that the indiscriminate installation had been objected to by the Administration. "The UT Administration has directed that paver blocks should only be laid where it is absolutely necessary and green pavers, which are environment friendly, should be used," he said.
