The Times of India 23.09.2010
Beautification drive MCD mockery
NEW DELHI: Beautification plans for areas like Paharganj, Karol Bagh and Delhi University seem to have gone horribly wrong leading to chaos in these areas.
Open drainage and duct channels in some of these areas have become mosquito breeding grounds. While work is far from being completed in these places, the newly-laid roads and footpaths have already started giving way.
At Paharganj — which has the highest concentration of guesthouses in the city — portions of the road leading to New Delhi Railway Station is crumbling. Open drains and ducts have made shops inaccessible. The lane, which has been recently made concrete, is covered with sludge due to constant waterlogging.
''We have placed tiles outside our shops so that customers can step on them and get inside. The service lines are jutting out of the duct channels, which are choked with garbage. There is massive waterlogging in the area every time it rains making it impossible to walk. Garbage and debris are lying all around place. The market was in a much better condition before this. They have wasted so much money and have not improved the infrastructure in the area. Overhead wires are still visible everywhere,'' president of Main Bazaar traders association, Vijay Kumar Jain, said.
According to traders, the tiles being placed in the area are not being cemented. Said a trader: ''These tiles will come off in a few days. The work is so shoddy that it will not last.''
In Karol Bagh, the situation is no better. Residents said due to the ongoing work, they had to put up with power cuts lasting five to six hours everyday.
''They cut our power supply daily due to the ongoing work in the area. Due to continuous rain, they have not been able to cover the duct channels in many areas. Water has filled up these channels leading to massive mosquito breeding. Streetscaping work is also still on,'' said vice-president of the resident's welfare association, Arun Verma.''
The relaying of footpath is still going on in Daryaganj. Infact, streetscaping work is not over in several colonies like Greater Kailash-II, Defence Colony, Saket etc.
''The rain has drastically slowed down the pace of work. Due to this, we have not been able to relay roads in several areas," said officials. Infact, in Delhi University, newly-laid roads have already started crumbling, according to sources.
Work on building basic infrastructure like toilets has also not been completed. The plan to build 220 high-end toilets is stuck due to protests by residents and the seven that have been constructed so far will not be open to the public anytime soon.
Besides this, work on construction of 1,000 waterless urinals has also not been completed. Around 30% work is still pending, according to officials.
However, the MCD continues to maintain that all Games-related work are nearing completion. MCD mayor P R Sawhney said: ''The high-end toilet project has been put on hold for now. But we are making other types of toilets around Games venues.''
Meanwhile, improvement of Chandni Chowk has been completely overlooked by the civic agency.
Open drainage and duct channels in some of these areas have become mosquito breeding grounds. While work is far from being completed in these places, the newly-laid roads and footpaths have already started giving way.
At Paharganj — which has the highest concentration of guesthouses in the city — portions of the road leading to New Delhi Railway Station is crumbling. Open drains and ducts have made shops inaccessible. The lane, which has been recently made concrete, is covered with sludge due to constant waterlogging.
''We have placed tiles outside our shops so that customers can step on them and get inside. The service lines are jutting out of the duct channels, which are choked with garbage. There is massive waterlogging in the area every time it rains making it impossible to walk. Garbage and debris are lying all around place. The market was in a much better condition before this. They have wasted so much money and have not improved the infrastructure in the area. Overhead wires are still visible everywhere,'' president of Main Bazaar traders association, Vijay Kumar Jain, said.
According to traders, the tiles being placed in the area are not being cemented. Said a trader: ''These tiles will come off in a few days. The work is so shoddy that it will not last.''
In Karol Bagh, the situation is no better. Residents said due to the ongoing work, they had to put up with power cuts lasting five to six hours everyday.
''They cut our power supply daily due to the ongoing work in the area. Due to continuous rain, they have not been able to cover the duct channels in many areas. Water has filled up these channels leading to massive mosquito breeding. Streetscaping work is also still on,'' said vice-president of the resident's welfare association, Arun Verma.''
The relaying of footpath is still going on in Daryaganj. Infact, streetscaping work is not over in several colonies like Greater Kailash-II, Defence Colony, Saket etc.
''The rain has drastically slowed down the pace of work. Due to this, we have not been able to relay roads in several areas," said officials. Infact, in Delhi University, newly-laid roads have already started crumbling, according to sources.
Work on building basic infrastructure like toilets has also not been completed. The plan to build 220 high-end toilets is stuck due to protests by residents and the seven that have been constructed so far will not be open to the public anytime soon.
Besides this, work on construction of 1,000 waterless urinals has also not been completed. Around 30% work is still pending, according to officials.
However, the MCD continues to maintain that all Games-related work are nearing completion. MCD mayor P R Sawhney said: ''The high-end toilet project has been put on hold for now. But we are making other types of toilets around Games venues.''
Meanwhile, improvement of Chandni Chowk has been completely overlooked by the civic agency.
