The Hindu 23.12.2013
NDMC plans fests and feasts to mark centenary year
Staff Reporter
A film and shopping festival are among a string of
events that the New Delhi Municipal Council has planned for its
centenary year celebrations. The functions will coincide with Christmas
and New Year.
The NDMC is one of the oldest civic
bodies in India and its centenary year celebrations this week are
expected to be a big draw in the Capital.
Briefing
about the events planned by the municipal body, NDMC chairperson Jalaj
Shrivastava said: “Besides showcasing a refurbished Connaught Place, one
of the country’s premier shopping centres, there will be something or
the other for everyone.” Mr. Shrivastava said that Connaught Place will
host the ‘Shop till you drop’ festival from December 23 to January 8 and
feature “bumper offers and attractive discounts”.
Food and culture
A
food festival from December 23 to 29 offering cuisine from across the
country and daily cultural programmes are also on the list. The
re-launch event of Connaught Place on December 30 will also feature
performances by renowned singers and artists. A display of vintage cars
and a kite flying festival are also on the cards.
Dwelling
into the history of the municipal body which has important structures
such as Parliament and Rashtrapati Bhavan under its jurisdiction, Mr.
Shrivastava said that the NDMC was born in 1913 as the Imperial Delhi
Committee, two years after the British rulers moved the Capital from
Kolkata to Delhi.
“In 1916, it was re-named Raisina Municipal Committee. In 1925, it was upgraded to a second class municipality,” he said.
As of today, the NDMC covers 42.74 sq km of area in what is also known as Lutyens’ Delhi.
