Activists campaigning to save the Yamuna are up in arms against the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's announcement to construct another bridge across the river.
Non-government organisation, Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, has shot off a letter to Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna complaining that the DMRC has been violating rules and has not sought mandatory clearances for the new project.
The YJA is protesting against the construction of the “pseudo bridge” that is part of the Mukandpur-Yamuna Vihar corridor under the Phase-III expansion plans of the metro.
The DMRC issued a notice inviting tender on July 4 for a new pseudo bridge-cum-road over the river Yamuna, according to YJA convenor Manoj Misra.
The proposed bridge is 83 m downstream of the existing Hazrat Nizamuddin bridge-cum-road.
YJA claims that the proposed bridge is in violation of the Delhi Development Authority Act and has no approval from the Delhi Urban Arts Commission as well. “The reason why we say so is because we are aware that such a bridge is not provided for in the approved zonal plan for zone O (it violates the DDA Act), there has been no approval for such a bridge by the DUAC,” the YJA has written to the Lieutenant-Governor.
The NGO has alleged that there has been no prior environmental impact assessment of the construction of such a bridge on the river system in the only remaining relatively secure zone of the river. “The proposal has to our best knowledge not yet been assessed by the Yamuna Standing Committee and no prior permission has been taken from the Yamuna River Development Authority.”
Seeking a ban on the construction of the pseudo bridge at the designated spot, YJA has claimed that sub zone 7 of the river, is the only secure flood plain in the 22 km of the river, where flood waters spread from end to end and recharge the city's aquifers.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
“Haryana withholding Delhi's share of water” (The Hindu 12 August 2011)
Delhi Jal Board complains to Upper Yamuna River Board
The Delhi Jal Board has shot off a letter to the Upper Yamuna River Board complaining that it is not receiving its full share of water from Haryana. The Jal Board has also sought a meeting on the issue of Haryana withholding Delhi's share of water.
The DJB has already written to Haryana, asking the authorities to ensure that the city gets its required quantum of water. However, with no let-up in sight, and the city suffering a water shortage for the past four weeks, the DJB has now sought the intervention of the Upper Yamuna River Board. According to Jal Board officials, water levels in the Munak canal have been fluctuating and as a result there has been shortage of raw water at Haiderpur water treatment plant.
The production of water at the WTP has been affected adversely and there has been shortage of about 10 to 20 MGD at the Haiderpur WTP. According to sources, water from the canal is being diverted to paddy fields since there has been less rainfall in Haryana. DJB officials said the command of the Haiderpur plant has been facing shortage of water supply. The major areas affected include all of South Delhi under the command of the Deer Park Reservoir such as Vasant Kunj, Munirka, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Indian Institute of Technology, Green Park, Safdurjung Enclave, Mehrauli, Kishangarh, R. K. Puram and areas in North Delhi and West Delhi such as parts of Rohini, Mangolpuri, Sultanpuri, Paschim Vihar, Pitampura, Ashok Vihar, Lawrence Road, Alipur, Janakpuri and Sagarpur.
“The DJB has been taking up this matter continuously with the Haryana authorities, but they have not been able to stabilise the canal at optimum level. It is apparently because of pressure for supplying more water to the paddy areas in Haryana,” said sources.
• ‘Capital suffering a water shortage for the past four weeks'
• ‘Shortage of raw water at Haiderpur water treatment plant'
The Delhi Jal Board has shot off a letter to the Upper Yamuna River Board complaining that it is not receiving its full share of water from Haryana. The Jal Board has also sought a meeting on the issue of Haryana withholding Delhi's share of water.
The DJB has already written to Haryana, asking the authorities to ensure that the city gets its required quantum of water. However, with no let-up in sight, and the city suffering a water shortage for the past four weeks, the DJB has now sought the intervention of the Upper Yamuna River Board. According to Jal Board officials, water levels in the Munak canal have been fluctuating and as a result there has been shortage of raw water at Haiderpur water treatment plant.
The production of water at the WTP has been affected adversely and there has been shortage of about 10 to 20 MGD at the Haiderpur WTP. According to sources, water from the canal is being diverted to paddy fields since there has been less rainfall in Haryana. DJB officials said the command of the Haiderpur plant has been facing shortage of water supply. The major areas affected include all of South Delhi under the command of the Deer Park Reservoir such as Vasant Kunj, Munirka, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Indian Institute of Technology, Green Park, Safdurjung Enclave, Mehrauli, Kishangarh, R. K. Puram and areas in North Delhi and West Delhi such as parts of Rohini, Mangolpuri, Sultanpuri, Paschim Vihar, Pitampura, Ashok Vihar, Lawrence Road, Alipur, Janakpuri and Sagarpur.
“The DJB has been taking up this matter continuously with the Haryana authorities, but they have not been able to stabilise the canal at optimum level. It is apparently because of pressure for supplying more water to the paddy areas in Haryana,” said sources.
• ‘Capital suffering a water shortage for the past four weeks'
• ‘Shortage of raw water at Haiderpur water treatment plant'
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
दिल्ली में उफान पर यमुना, बाढ़ का खतरा (Amar Ujala 17 August 2011)
दिल्ली में यमुना का जलस्तर खतरे के निशान के नजदीक पहुंच गया। इस वजह से अधिकारियों ने यमुना से सटे निचले इलाकों को खाली करा लिया है। हरियाणा के हथिनीकुण्ड बैराज से पानी छोड़े जाने के कारण यह स्थिति आई है।
पूर्वी दिल्ली स्थित गांधीनगर केंद्रीय नियंत्रण कक्ष के एक अधिकारी ने बताया कि जल स्तर 204.64 मीटर तक पहुंच गया है और इसके 204.83 मीटर तक पहुंचने की आशंका है। हम लोगों ने आपातकालीन योजनाएं तैयार कर रखी हैं।
हथिनीकुण्ड बैराज से मंगलवार को 6,22000 क्युसेक पानी छोड़ा गया था जिससे दिल्ली में बाढ़ जैसी स्थिति उत्पन्न हो गई है। दिल्ली के राजस्व मंत्री ए. के. वालिया ने मंगलवार को बताया कि सिंचाईं और बाढ़ नियंत्रण विभाग के नियंत्रण कक्ष यमुना के दोनों तरफ कार्य कर रहे हैं। बाढ़ से निपटने के लिए 56 नौकाएं और पम्प लगाए गए हैं।
पूर्वी दिल्ली स्थित गांधीनगर केंद्रीय नियंत्रण कक्ष के एक अधिकारी ने बताया कि जल स्तर 204.64 मीटर तक पहुंच गया है और इसके 204.83 मीटर तक पहुंचने की आशंका है। हम लोगों ने आपातकालीन योजनाएं तैयार कर रखी हैं।
हथिनीकुण्ड बैराज से मंगलवार को 6,22000 क्युसेक पानी छोड़ा गया था जिससे दिल्ली में बाढ़ जैसी स्थिति उत्पन्न हो गई है। दिल्ली के राजस्व मंत्री ए. के. वालिया ने मंगलवार को बताया कि सिंचाईं और बाढ़ नियंत्रण विभाग के नियंत्रण कक्ष यमुना के दोनों तरफ कार्य कर रहे हैं। बाढ़ से निपटने के लिए 56 नौकाएं और पम्प लगाए गए हैं।
Thursday, August 11, 2011
In birds' own country a long wait for water to breed (The Hindu 07 August 2011)
An anxious wait for rain continues in the world famous birds' country, Keoladeo National Park (KNP), near Bharatpur in Rajasthan as rain gods have not exactly smiled on the marshes this season yet. Monsoon showers mean everything to the 29 sq. km park, a World Heritage site, as the nesting and breeding of a large number of bird species totally depends on inundation of the marshes and the arrival of fingerlings which form the food for the newborn and the parents.
The wait is not by the hooting, cackling, winging avian force alone as the stake holders include rickshaw pullers doubling as naturalists in the park, hoteliers, vehicle operators and thousands of other people in the Keoladeo surroundings who survive on as well as live with them. The Forest Fepartment authorities, for whom arranging for the annul intake of 550 million cubic feet (MCFT) water to the park has become a herculean task year after year of late, are keeping their fingers crossed on the season's breeding prospects.
“We are still hoping that the park will get water in the next fortnight. If that does not happen, the birds now waiting in the newly built nests would abandon their homes and leave the place,” says Anoop K.R., Field Director of the Park. Early breeders -- Open billed stork, Cormorant, Egret, Darter, White Ibis, Grey heron: in a good year their numbers could be legion -- who start arriving in the park by the end of June are ensconced in the nests and the signal would be the next gush of big waters into the park.
Then there are Spoon bills, Painted storks, Spot bill, Comb duck, Cotton teal, Bronze winged jacana, Purple moorhen… It is during the monsoon that the heronry, terrestrial birds and ungulates alike come alive and celebrate the season of creation.
Of late the water supply to the park, once a duck shooting ground for the rulers of Bharatpur State and their guests, has been erratic. Increasing the height of the Panchana dam in Karauli district without fixing a minimum share of water to the Keoladeo marshes some time back is now proving a big mistake on the part of the planners. The farmers in the upstream area are resisting release of the water and the authorities are afraid to act -- for birds do not have votes, as famously said by a Bharatpur politician once.
There had been some efforts by the Rajasthan Government in the past to help the park overcome its water crisis -- which has also put a question mark over its continuing in the Heritage list. The State Board for Wildlife has already passed a resolution recommending an annul quota for KNP from Panchana, fed by the rivers, Ghambir and Banganga.
Work is in progress on the 17.1 km Govardhan Drain project which is expected to harness flood waters from a 70 km area in the neighbouring States of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana as well. However, this project, funded by the Planning Commission, will be ready only for the nest season -- in 2013. A 3.6 km water inlet -- Chiksana Canal -- built recently at a cost of Rs. 41 lakhs, is to bring in 50 MCFT water.
The previous season (2010-11) was good with 700-800 pairs breeding in Keoladeo while the preceding year was a disaster with park missing its chicks. The year 2008-09 too had witnessed good breeding – more than 1,000 nests, as per Mr. Anoop's estimate -- while there is a question mark on the current season.
The rainy season for east Rajasthan is from July to September but then the birds are not going to wait eternally for their home-making. “If the park is not flooded in another week we can only hope for action from the late breeders such as Spoon bills and Painted storks,” says Mr. Anoop.
The wait is not by the hooting, cackling, winging avian force alone as the stake holders include rickshaw pullers doubling as naturalists in the park, hoteliers, vehicle operators and thousands of other people in the Keoladeo surroundings who survive on as well as live with them. The Forest Fepartment authorities, for whom arranging for the annul intake of 550 million cubic feet (MCFT) water to the park has become a herculean task year after year of late, are keeping their fingers crossed on the season's breeding prospects.
“We are still hoping that the park will get water in the next fortnight. If that does not happen, the birds now waiting in the newly built nests would abandon their homes and leave the place,” says Anoop K.R., Field Director of the Park. Early breeders -- Open billed stork, Cormorant, Egret, Darter, White Ibis, Grey heron: in a good year their numbers could be legion -- who start arriving in the park by the end of June are ensconced in the nests and the signal would be the next gush of big waters into the park.
Then there are Spoon bills, Painted storks, Spot bill, Comb duck, Cotton teal, Bronze winged jacana, Purple moorhen… It is during the monsoon that the heronry, terrestrial birds and ungulates alike come alive and celebrate the season of creation.
Of late the water supply to the park, once a duck shooting ground for the rulers of Bharatpur State and their guests, has been erratic. Increasing the height of the Panchana dam in Karauli district without fixing a minimum share of water to the Keoladeo marshes some time back is now proving a big mistake on the part of the planners. The farmers in the upstream area are resisting release of the water and the authorities are afraid to act -- for birds do not have votes, as famously said by a Bharatpur politician once.
There had been some efforts by the Rajasthan Government in the past to help the park overcome its water crisis -- which has also put a question mark over its continuing in the Heritage list. The State Board for Wildlife has already passed a resolution recommending an annul quota for KNP from Panchana, fed by the rivers, Ghambir and Banganga.
Work is in progress on the 17.1 km Govardhan Drain project which is expected to harness flood waters from a 70 km area in the neighbouring States of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana as well. However, this project, funded by the Planning Commission, will be ready only for the nest season -- in 2013. A 3.6 km water inlet -- Chiksana Canal -- built recently at a cost of Rs. 41 lakhs, is to bring in 50 MCFT water.
The previous season (2010-11) was good with 700-800 pairs breeding in Keoladeo while the preceding year was a disaster with park missing its chicks. The year 2008-09 too had witnessed good breeding – more than 1,000 nests, as per Mr. Anoop's estimate -- while there is a question mark on the current season.
The rainy season for east Rajasthan is from July to September but then the birds are not going to wait eternally for their home-making. “If the park is not flooded in another week we can only hope for action from the late breeders such as Spoon bills and Painted storks,” says Mr. Anoop.
MCD blames Delhi Govt. over water contamination (The Hindu 03 August 2011)
Civic body has been updating the CM on the issue'
In the wake of the National Human Rights Commission's action in asking Delhi Jal Board chairman and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to explain the measures being taken to supply potable drinking water in the city in the wake of the water contamination controversy, the BJP-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi also hit out at the State Government on Tuesday.
MCD Leader of House Subhash Arya said: “The MCD is already concerned about the ill-effects of dirty water on the health of Delhiites and now the NHRC has also expressed its concern over the fact. The Commission has stated clearly that it is the right of the citizens to get clean drinking water and it is the responsibility of the Government to provide clean drinking water to them. The Delhi Government has completely failed in fulfilling its responsibility.”
The MCD on Tuesday said its health department on its own and jointly with the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has been taking samples of water and apprising the DJB about the findings.
Mr. Arya said: “Dr. V.K. Monga, chairman of MCD Medical Relief and Public Health Committee, has been time and again updating the Delhi Chief Minister on the outcome of these samples. However, he has not yet got a reply. On the ground level, it is amply clear that no concrete action has been taken as the report shows.”
He also stated that of the 4,816 water samples taken by the MCD in the joint survey in the current year, dirty water was found in 315 samples. “There is a signature of DJB officials on the joint survey. In this regard, the statement by the DJB that it is not aware about supply of dirty water is nothing but shirking from its responsibility. The MCD also provides information to the department concerned when the sample of drinking water is found to be dirty,” he added.
Mr. Arya said: “We had also informed the DJB about 642 pipelines that run cutting nullahs. Of them, only seven pipelines have been repaired. Besides this, the DJB was also provided with the list of 23 cases of water leakages. However, only seven of them have been repaired and nothing concrete done on the remaining 16 pipelines so far. The MCD is tasked with maintenance of storm water drains of up to four feet. Whenever samples of drinking water are taken and the levels of dirty water found, it is only of the sewer mixed water.”
He went on to state that people residing in unauthorised and unauthorised regularised resettlement colonies have put their sewer lines in storm water drains, which is an illegal activity. “All this is the responsibility of the Chief Minister and she must rectify this without any delay,” he added.
NHRC notice to Jal Board chief
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice, returnable in four weeks, to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) Chairman seeking a report on the news items that stated contaminated water was being supplied in many areas in the city due to cracks in the pipeline.
The Commission wanted the Chairman to explain what measures were being taken by DJB to provide potable water to the Delhi ites.
The NHRC took the issue suo motu based on the media reports. The reports claimed that according to a survey conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and DJB in 200 areas at least 67 major water pipelines had micro cracks and were being contaminated by sewage as the lines crossed each other. The pipelines were quite old and some of them as old as 100 years, like those in Chandni Chowk and have rusted, leading to major leakages. Many residential colonies in Delhi had been getting contaminated water and the danger posed by this contaminated water were manifold as it might cause a variety of aliments including viral infection, hepatitis E, typhoid, cholera and jaundice.
The Commission expressed its concern on the “contaminated water issue” and observed that the contents of the report, if true, amounted to serious violation of right to health of the people of Delhi.
In the wake of the National Human Rights Commission's action in asking Delhi Jal Board chairman and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to explain the measures being taken to supply potable drinking water in the city in the wake of the water contamination controversy, the BJP-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi also hit out at the State Government on Tuesday.
MCD Leader of House Subhash Arya said: “The MCD is already concerned about the ill-effects of dirty water on the health of Delhiites and now the NHRC has also expressed its concern over the fact. The Commission has stated clearly that it is the right of the citizens to get clean drinking water and it is the responsibility of the Government to provide clean drinking water to them. The Delhi Government has completely failed in fulfilling its responsibility.”
The MCD on Tuesday said its health department on its own and jointly with the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has been taking samples of water and apprising the DJB about the findings.
Mr. Arya said: “Dr. V.K. Monga, chairman of MCD Medical Relief and Public Health Committee, has been time and again updating the Delhi Chief Minister on the outcome of these samples. However, he has not yet got a reply. On the ground level, it is amply clear that no concrete action has been taken as the report shows.”
He also stated that of the 4,816 water samples taken by the MCD in the joint survey in the current year, dirty water was found in 315 samples. “There is a signature of DJB officials on the joint survey. In this regard, the statement by the DJB that it is not aware about supply of dirty water is nothing but shirking from its responsibility. The MCD also provides information to the department concerned when the sample of drinking water is found to be dirty,” he added.
Mr. Arya said: “We had also informed the DJB about 642 pipelines that run cutting nullahs. Of them, only seven pipelines have been repaired. Besides this, the DJB was also provided with the list of 23 cases of water leakages. However, only seven of them have been repaired and nothing concrete done on the remaining 16 pipelines so far. The MCD is tasked with maintenance of storm water drains of up to four feet. Whenever samples of drinking water are taken and the levels of dirty water found, it is only of the sewer mixed water.”
He went on to state that people residing in unauthorised and unauthorised regularised resettlement colonies have put their sewer lines in storm water drains, which is an illegal activity. “All this is the responsibility of the Chief Minister and she must rectify this without any delay,” he added.
NHRC notice to Jal Board chief
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice, returnable in four weeks, to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) Chairman seeking a report on the news items that stated contaminated water was being supplied in many areas in the city due to cracks in the pipeline.
The Commission wanted the Chairman to explain what measures were being taken by DJB to provide potable water to the Delhi ites.
The NHRC took the issue suo motu based on the media reports. The reports claimed that according to a survey conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and DJB in 200 areas at least 67 major water pipelines had micro cracks and were being contaminated by sewage as the lines crossed each other. The pipelines were quite old and some of them as old as 100 years, like those in Chandni Chowk and have rusted, leading to major leakages. Many residential colonies in Delhi had been getting contaminated water and the danger posed by this contaminated water were manifold as it might cause a variety of aliments including viral infection, hepatitis E, typhoid, cholera and jaundice.
The Commission expressed its concern on the “contaminated water issue” and observed that the contents of the report, if true, amounted to serious violation of right to health of the people of Delhi.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Jal Board refutes MCD report on contamination (Hindu 02 August 2011)
“Complaints over leakage, water quality received daily but problem not alarming”
Making the most of it: Street children enjoying a bath thanks to a leaking Delhi Jal Board pipeline at East Patel Nagar roundabout on Monday. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
The Delhi Jal Board on Monday admitted that there are complaints of contamination that it receives daily but maintained that the situation is far from alarming. The Board was reacting to a report compiled by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi alleging that there are cracks in major pipelines that allow contamination of water.
Speaking in defence of the water utility, DJB Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Negi said: “We have over 1,400 km of pipeline. There are leakages and on an everyday basis we get about 20-40 complaints of contamination that are attended to, but the problem is not so alarming.”
‘Where is MCD report?'
The CEO claimed that the Jal Board has not been given a copy of the MCD report, and said that contrary to what the MCD has claimed the DJB has not been part of the survey or report drafting. “No such report has been received by the CEO or by the Member (Water supply) in the DJB, from the Municipal Commissioner, the MCD, or the Chairman, Health Committee of the MCD. In fact, no joint survey of the pipelines was carried out. We have learnt that a copy has been submitted to the Delhi Government, we will ask for a copy of the report.”
The DJB CEO turned the tables on the civic agency for flawed policies that make it difficult for the water utility to get permission to cut roads and carry out necessary repair work.
“The MCD has a complex bureaucracy, there is over centralisation. We have requested the Government to make the procedure (of getting permission) easier,” said Mr. Negi. He also made a reference to the disagreement over cost sharing for road cutting and repair work.
Citing examples of delays caused by the time-consuming permission procedure, Mr. Negi said in Inderpuri the Jal Board had to go ahead with the road cutting work without the permission since the contamination complaints had been pending for over a week.
He also said that in most cases of contamination, the Jal Board had found that the service pipelines were old and rusted. These service lines are the responsibility of the consumers and have to be replaced in 10-15 years.
“Another major problem is that there is no dedicated corridor for the pipelines. Over 50 per cent of Delhi is built in an unauthorised way. There are resettlement colonies, unauthorised colonies, urban villages, slums, and in most of the places the sewer pipes run close to the water carrying mains. The problem of contamination is more during the monsoon season,” said Mr. Negi.
He said with a network of over 14,000 km of water pipelines, and 700 km of water mains and the rest peripheral lines under its service, the DJB has a streamlined procedure for handling contamination issues.
“We routinely lift samples for checking the quality of water. If the source of contamination is not traced immediately, the water supply to the area is cut-off without delay, and water is supplied through tankers until the source of contamination is found and remedied,” he said.
Listing the major reasons for contamination he said, the most common causes are leakages in pipelines, overflowing of sewers and nullahs and damaged service pipelines.
The DJB CEO said about 200-250 km of pipeline is changed annually and they have been urging the MCD to appoint an official who can be part of a joint team that can assess complaints and areas that need attention. “But we have not heard from the MCD so far. We have also set up a system wherein complaints can be lodged with the local water emergency or the central control room, or send an SMS to 53030 by typing “DJB (space) C”.
Making the most of it: Street children enjoying a bath thanks to a leaking Delhi Jal Board pipeline at East Patel Nagar roundabout on Monday. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
The Delhi Jal Board on Monday admitted that there are complaints of contamination that it receives daily but maintained that the situation is far from alarming. The Board was reacting to a report compiled by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi alleging that there are cracks in major pipelines that allow contamination of water.
Speaking in defence of the water utility, DJB Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Negi said: “We have over 1,400 km of pipeline. There are leakages and on an everyday basis we get about 20-40 complaints of contamination that are attended to, but the problem is not so alarming.”
‘Where is MCD report?'
The CEO claimed that the Jal Board has not been given a copy of the MCD report, and said that contrary to what the MCD has claimed the DJB has not been part of the survey or report drafting. “No such report has been received by the CEO or by the Member (Water supply) in the DJB, from the Municipal Commissioner, the MCD, or the Chairman, Health Committee of the MCD. In fact, no joint survey of the pipelines was carried out. We have learnt that a copy has been submitted to the Delhi Government, we will ask for a copy of the report.”
The DJB CEO turned the tables on the civic agency for flawed policies that make it difficult for the water utility to get permission to cut roads and carry out necessary repair work.
“The MCD has a complex bureaucracy, there is over centralisation. We have requested the Government to make the procedure (of getting permission) easier,” said Mr. Negi. He also made a reference to the disagreement over cost sharing for road cutting and repair work.
Citing examples of delays caused by the time-consuming permission procedure, Mr. Negi said in Inderpuri the Jal Board had to go ahead with the road cutting work without the permission since the contamination complaints had been pending for over a week.
He also said that in most cases of contamination, the Jal Board had found that the service pipelines were old and rusted. These service lines are the responsibility of the consumers and have to be replaced in 10-15 years.
“Another major problem is that there is no dedicated corridor for the pipelines. Over 50 per cent of Delhi is built in an unauthorised way. There are resettlement colonies, unauthorised colonies, urban villages, slums, and in most of the places the sewer pipes run close to the water carrying mains. The problem of contamination is more during the monsoon season,” said Mr. Negi.
He said with a network of over 14,000 km of water pipelines, and 700 km of water mains and the rest peripheral lines under its service, the DJB has a streamlined procedure for handling contamination issues.
“We routinely lift samples for checking the quality of water. If the source of contamination is not traced immediately, the water supply to the area is cut-off without delay, and water is supplied through tankers until the source of contamination is found and remedied,” he said.
Listing the major reasons for contamination he said, the most common causes are leakages in pipelines, overflowing of sewers and nullahs and damaged service pipelines.
The DJB CEO said about 200-250 km of pipeline is changed annually and they have been urging the MCD to appoint an official who can be part of a joint team that can assess complaints and areas that need attention. “But we have not heard from the MCD so far. We have also set up a system wherein complaints can be lodged with the local water emergency or the central control room, or send an SMS to 53030 by typing “DJB (space) C”.
Green hurdle for amusement park (31 July 2011)
NEW DELHI: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's proposed amusement park at Shastri Park Metro station is being opposed by the city's green lobby.
The Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, a consortium of NGOs, says that the 15 hectares of land where park is to be built is not meant for commercial use and that DMRC does not have the requisite approvals to go ahead with the project.
The first violation, said Manoj Misra, convener of YJA, was of the moratorium issued by the lieutenant-governor prohibiting construction on the river bed. A DMRC spokesperson said that this proposal to set up an amusement park was followed up with LG's office and permission for setting up the park was given on November 16, 2010. But sources in the LG's office said this could not be construed as the final permission.
The office made it clear that there could be no permanent structures in the park, no concretization and the project had to be eco-friendly. However, DMRC still has to apply to DDA with the final plans. There is no formal clearance for the project from the LG's office," said a source.
Misra told TOI that as per the 2021 Master Plan and zonal plan, DMRC did not have any land available for commercial activity. "The limited land with designated 'commercial' land use has already been converted into IT parks. In any case, the entire DMRC complex at Shastri Park lies within the active river plain of 1,150m. This is important in view of the Delhi high court's decision of 2005, where it had ordered for the demolition of any structure standing within 300m of the river," said Misra.
He added that DMRC also did not have any approval from either the Yamuna Standing Committee or the Delhi Urban Arts Commission for the final project.
A DMRC spokesperson denied the charges, saying approval of the Central Water Commission's Yamuna Standing Committee for setting up an amusement park was obtained through their 68th committee meeting held March 2005. "The land was handed over to us by DDA in November 1999. Since then, it has been lying vacant. The land has to be commissioned out temporarily for 15 years. We have all necessary clearances," said the spokesperson.
YJA pointed out that even the standing committee clearance came with the rider that the river bed level had to be restored to 204m since during the earlier construction by Delhi Metro, the level had been raised by dumping of debris. The restoration has not taken place.
"The land use of the specific area is not commercial as per the zonal plan and no commercial activity can be allowed here without a change in land use. If DMRC has no operational use for this land why can't it be returned to DDA and restored as floodplain," said Misra.
The Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, a consortium of NGOs, says that the 15 hectares of land where park is to be built is not meant for commercial use and that DMRC does not have the requisite approvals to go ahead with the project.
The first violation, said Manoj Misra, convener of YJA, was of the moratorium issued by the lieutenant-governor prohibiting construction on the river bed. A DMRC spokesperson said that this proposal to set up an amusement park was followed up with LG's office and permission for setting up the park was given on November 16, 2010. But sources in the LG's office said this could not be construed as the final permission.
The office made it clear that there could be no permanent structures in the park, no concretization and the project had to be eco-friendly. However, DMRC still has to apply to DDA with the final plans. There is no formal clearance for the project from the LG's office," said a source.
Misra told TOI that as per the 2021 Master Plan and zonal plan, DMRC did not have any land available for commercial activity. "The limited land with designated 'commercial' land use has already been converted into IT parks. In any case, the entire DMRC complex at Shastri Park lies within the active river plain of 1,150m. This is important in view of the Delhi high court's decision of 2005, where it had ordered for the demolition of any structure standing within 300m of the river," said Misra.
He added that DMRC also did not have any approval from either the Yamuna Standing Committee or the Delhi Urban Arts Commission for the final project.
A DMRC spokesperson denied the charges, saying approval of the Central Water Commission's Yamuna Standing Committee for setting up an amusement park was obtained through their 68th committee meeting held March 2005. "The land was handed over to us by DDA in November 1999. Since then, it has been lying vacant. The land has to be commissioned out temporarily for 15 years. We have all necessary clearances," said the spokesperson.
YJA pointed out that even the standing committee clearance came with the rider that the river bed level had to be restored to 204m since during the earlier construction by Delhi Metro, the level had been raised by dumping of debris. The restoration has not taken place.
"The land use of the specific area is not commercial as per the zonal plan and no commercial activity can be allowed here without a change in land use. If DMRC has no operational use for this land why can't it be returned to DDA and restored as floodplain," said Misra.
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