The Indian Express               08.10.2013

DDA, govt get 4 weeks to remove illegal religious structures in city

Expressing displeasure at the delay in removal of unauthorised religious structures in the capital, the Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Delhi government to remove encroachments from 27 identified sites within four weeks.

"Land is the most valuable resource. How can the government take no action to recover the encroached land?" a special bench of Justice Muralidhar and Justice R S Endlaw said, after taking note of an affidavit filed by the Chief Secretary, which detailed the steps taken to remove unauthorised encroachments.

Pulling up the government and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for "losing sight of the extent and value of the encroached land", the court said it would "not allow writing off of the encroachment".

Calling the affidavit "cleverly worded", the court said, "This affidavit seems to be based on the "ability to utilise land" by the agency... does that mean that if you can't use these small parcels of land then you might as well leave it? It seems that you are trying to write off the encroachment and let unauthorised construction stand as it is."

The court has now directed the Chief Secretary and the Vice-Chairman of DDA to take action and file a progress report within four weeks, after brushing aside the government defence that officials were busy with election duty.

"You don't do your own work, is that why all your officials have been asked to do election work? Elections are in December, you have had time... to get the work done" the court said.

Officials from the police and Home departments, who were present for the hearing, were later heard expressing their apprehension about public reaction over the demolition.

"Earlier, we had ordered that an action plan be made. At that time, the tenor was that we would get the unauthorised encroachment out. Now, it seems that you are trying to not take action at all," the court said.

The court referred to the affidavit to point out that of the 27 sites which were to be taken possession of and handed to the DDA, only 10 had been formally taken over. There had also been no demolitions and nothing had been done regarding the remaining 17 sites, the court said.

The court noted that the action plan proposed by the government to remove encroachments had identified 34 structures in "sensitive" areas. No steps had been taken to begin negotiations with residents of areas.

Defending their position, the government's lawyer said, "We are waiting for permission from the religious committee."

However, the court said, "It is all the more important that religious committee not delay the creation of an action plan to remove the encroachments..."

The High Court has been monitoring the issue of encroachment on government land since 2005 after taking suo motu cognisance of media reports. The reports showed nearly 43,000 acres of government land lying unused and being encroached on by the land mafia and unauthorised persons.

The Times of India           07.10.2013 

Municipal body floats fresh bids to run Boat Club

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has invited fresh bids from private contractors for managing the Boat Club along the Godavari within the municipal limits, along with the responsibility of cleaning various parts of the river.

The civic body's previous bids in May 2013 had met with poor responses from private agencies. It expects better response to the fresh tenders.

The last date for filing the bids is October 15. The bids are to be opened the same day. The NMC has identified three locations for the project over a 15-km stretch of the river - from Anandwalli weir to Eklahare - in three separate parts: Anandwalli weir to Ahilyabai Holkar bridge in Nashik West division, Ahilyabai Holkar bridge to Kapila Sangam, Tapovan in Panchavati division and Kapila Sangam, Tapovan to Manur-Eklahara in Nashik Road-Panchavati divisions. The private agency taking up the project will also be responsible for keeping the river clean in these three locations.

The contract would be for the period of one year and the agency will have to manage the boat club on its own expenses. The revenue earned is to be used for maintenance of the river and the boats, apart from a royalty to be paid to the civic body.

"Our objective is to make the Godavari pollution-free and also boost tourism. We are expecting a better response to the bids . A monthly royalty will have be paid to the NMC, but the amount has not yet been decided. We will decide upon the royalty after we receive the amount quoted by the agency," an NMC official said.