The Times of India 12.09.2014
Key priorities identified for Delhi beautification drive
Focus on removing pavement squatters, illegal parking and anti-waterlogging measures
NEW
DELHI: Delhi government and other civic agencies will undertake joint
drive to remove encroachment from roads and footpaths. At a review
meeting taken by the urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu on
Thursday, it was also decided that the agencies concerned would remove
debris from these stretches besides undertaking repair and painting
work.
These have been identified as some of the
priorities for beautification of Delhi. A ministry spokesperson said
that the general perception of management of public places and utilities
in the national capital is very poor and this needs to be changed
through a special drive.
The actions that have been firmed up
for immediate action include taking anti-waterlogging measures, managing
drains and removal of roadside vegetation, removal of illegal parking
slots to enable working of mechanical sweepers. “All the agencies
concerned have committed to remove waste littered in industrial areas,
green waste and litter from parks and gardens. They will also undertake
cleanliness drive at bus terminals, hospitals and educational
institutions,” a ministry official said.
He added that the
first phase on interceptor sewer would be commissioned soon and the city
government would launch decentralized water treatment plant with
dispensing units (water ATMs) at Shabad Daulatpur. Moreover, more number
of municipal magistrates would be deployed to challan violations
relating to sanitation.
Officials said that each government
agencies concerned would take medium-term measures within the next six
months. These include notification of sanitation by-laws, outsourcing
the maintenance and management of toilets and urinals, introduction of
door-to-door waste collection service to move towards doing away with
dhaloas.
Ministry sources said that segregation of wastes at
household level would also be introduced in the next few months and
waste processing and waste-to-energy plants would be set up at Ghazipur,
Narela and Bawana.
Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will also
undertake upgrading of 25 children’s parks, play fields in 80 parks,
open gyms in 20 parks, shelters, food kiosks, solar lighting, open
spaces and plazas. It will develop park for differently abled children
at Sector-21 in Dwarka with Rs 14 crore investment.
DDA would
also generate 1 MW of solar energy in the next six months for which an
MoU has already been signed with Solar Power Corporation of India.