The Times of India 01.11.2010
Dhirpur scheme hits green hurdle, DDA plans a park
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Development Authority's (DDA) plans to build around 700-odd flats in Dhirpur, near the NH-1 bypass on Outer Ring Road, have been shelved. The land agency is now planning to turn the residential project into a recreational park, complete with a waterbody.
The decision to change the residential project into a park was taken after the environment department pointed out that the land was an intensive green area. Said a senior DDA official, ''Since originally, the land had been earmarked for residential use, we had finalized a plan for a residential scheme. However, when environment clearance was sought, it was pointed out that the land was of bowl type and had a great potential for water harvesting.'' Last Tuesday, the L-G office approved the change of land use.
''The proposal to change around 31.79 hectares of the Dhirpur residential scheme phase I from residential to semi-public/university campus area was formally approved, along with changing 25.38 hectares of the plot into recreation, that is, for building a district park,'' said Neemo Dhar, spokesperson for the DDA. Dhar added that this change of land use had been approved subject to the condition that existing ground/ waterbody will be retained as part of PSP use in the composite scheme of the university campus in addition to the adjoining wetland for recreation use.
Officials say the decision to go green in the Dhirpur scheme was also influenced by the waning interest shown by the general public in the other residential schemes, like Rohini and Dwarka. The Dhirpur plot was earmarked for allotment to co-operative group housing societies. The plan was to offer around 700 flats, with approximately 200 in the LIG category and around 500 for the middle income group. However, increasing pressure from the environmental bodies as well as DDA's experience with other residential schemes prompted it to accede to the environment department's proposal.
DDA is now pushing for green development on the plot, by ''protecting the environment''. Said Dhar, ''The realisation of the water harvesting potential of land prompted us to change the land use.''
The decision to change the residential project into a park was taken after the environment department pointed out that the land was an intensive green area. Said a senior DDA official, ''Since originally, the land had been earmarked for residential use, we had finalized a plan for a residential scheme. However, when environment clearance was sought, it was pointed out that the land was of bowl type and had a great potential for water harvesting.'' Last Tuesday, the L-G office approved the change of land use.
''The proposal to change around 31.79 hectares of the Dhirpur residential scheme phase I from residential to semi-public/university campus area was formally approved, along with changing 25.38 hectares of the plot into recreation, that is, for building a district park,'' said Neemo Dhar, spokesperson for the DDA. Dhar added that this change of land use had been approved subject to the condition that existing ground/ waterbody will be retained as part of PSP use in the composite scheme of the university campus in addition to the adjoining wetland for recreation use.
Officials say the decision to go green in the Dhirpur scheme was also influenced by the waning interest shown by the general public in the other residential schemes, like Rohini and Dwarka. The Dhirpur plot was earmarked for allotment to co-operative group housing societies. The plan was to offer around 700 flats, with approximately 200 in the LIG category and around 500 for the middle income group. However, increasing pressure from the environmental bodies as well as DDA's experience with other residential schemes prompted it to accede to the environment department's proposal.
DDA is now pushing for green development on the plot, by ''protecting the environment''. Said Dhar, ''The realisation of the water harvesting potential of land prompted us to change the land use.''
