Indian Express 03.12.2010
MCD may get rid of irreparable fountains
Musical fountains that have lost their rhythm may soon be removed from colony parks. At the Standing Committee meeting on Wednesday, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) said it will demolish non-functioning ornamental fountains and waterfalls in its parks and public plazas if they are beyond repair.
MCD members stated that as these fountains turn into breeding grounds for mosquitoes when they stop functioning, it is only proper that they be demolished.
Fountains are perfect examples of MCD projects that are not maintained, once implemented. Of the 800 fountains in the 12 MCD zones, as many as 700 are not functioning. They will be dismantled on a case-to-case basis after discussions with RWAs and local municipal councillors, said Yogender Chandolia, chairperson of the Standing Committee.
The issue of defunct fountains was raised at a meeting of the MCD Standing Committee. It was observed that in many parks, they have been turned into garbage dumps in the absence of proper water supply.
MCD officials held that the maintenance cost for such water fountains is high.
Speaking on the matter, Chandolia said, “The civic body had installed waterfalls and fountains in various parks seven to eight years ago. But, for the last three years, they have been lying defunct. They are currently being used as garbage dumps by residents.”
“During a joint round of these undertaken by Standing Committee members, Resident Welfare Association members and the local public arrived at the consensus that these structures were of no specific use, incurred high maintenace costs and posed as potential mosquito breeding grounds. Subsequently, the Municipal Commissioner has been directed to issue orders for dismantling them on a case-to-case basis,” the Standing Committee chairperson added.
