NEW DELHI: When Delhi Development
Authority (DDA) acquired land for IIT in 1960, it was a far cry from the
crowded urban city centre it is now. In the middle of
the flush open farmland was a stepwell which was almost transferred to Indian
Institute of Technology but better sense prevailed and the civic
authorities left it alone. This baoli, however, is now lost under tightly
packed concrete buildings.
Ranbir Singh, a resident of Jia Sarai where the stepwell is located, has been fighting for it since 1980s when the encroachment first started. The baoli is mentioned in Delhi government's 2006 list which has recorded 629 water bodies in the city.
"The land was first acquired by DDA and transferred to the municipal corporation a few years later. The land in question comes under khasras 74 and 75. DDA has said on record that the land is a water body and belongs to the municipal agency which is authorized to take action. However, till date, construction work is taking place. The stepwell has been covered entirely and no part of it is visible," said Singh.
Not much is known about the structure except that it is an old construction and built in an area of about 1.75 sq yard. "In 1982, a lower court had instructed that status quo be maintained on the land. Despite the order, the construction continued and private buildings cover not only the stepwell but a substantial area surrounding it. Only part of a wall is visible but that too is now enclosed by a residential building and not visible to everyone. Delhi Wakf Board has also complained against the encroachers for demolishing two tombs which existed at the spot earlier," added Singh.
Municipal officials have accepted in court that the area in question has been encroached upon and the buildings are illegal. However, no information has been given on what it intends to do with the illegal buildings or how it will stop he construction that is taking place even now.
Government officials who are part of a committee on water body count, headed by the Delhi chief secretary, say this is a classic case of land owning agencies being negligent towards the water bodies. "This is not just a water body but also a heritage structure. The case has been dragging on for around 30 years and if the departments concerned wanted, they could have easily cleared the land and preserved the water body," said an official.
Ranbir Singh, a resident of Jia Sarai where the stepwell is located, has been fighting for it since 1980s when the encroachment first started. The baoli is mentioned in Delhi government's 2006 list which has recorded 629 water bodies in the city.
"The land was first acquired by DDA and transferred to the municipal corporation a few years later. The land in question comes under khasras 74 and 75. DDA has said on record that the land is a water body and belongs to the municipal agency which is authorized to take action. However, till date, construction work is taking place. The stepwell has been covered entirely and no part of it is visible," said Singh.
Not much is known about the structure except that it is an old construction and built in an area of about 1.75 sq yard. "In 1982, a lower court had instructed that status quo be maintained on the land. Despite the order, the construction continued and private buildings cover not only the stepwell but a substantial area surrounding it. Only part of a wall is visible but that too is now enclosed by a residential building and not visible to everyone. Delhi Wakf Board has also complained against the encroachers for demolishing two tombs which existed at the spot earlier," added Singh.
Municipal officials have accepted in court that the area in question has been encroached upon and the buildings are illegal. However, no information has been given on what it intends to do with the illegal buildings or how it will stop he construction that is taking place even now.
Government officials who are part of a committee on water body count, headed by the Delhi chief secretary, say this is a classic case of land owning agencies being negligent towards the water bodies. "This is not just a water body but also a heritage structure. The case has been dragging on for around 30 years and if the departments concerned wanted, they could have easily cleared the land and preserved the water body," said an official.
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