New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) V K Saxena on Thursday expressed shock over the condition of unauthorised colonies in Burari and instructed officers to take immediate steps to ensure sanitation and cleanliness. He also asked them to ensure that the timelines are informed to him about the completion of the projects and the same are adhered to.
The instructions came after Saxena on Wednesday visited Burari, that houses a population of nearly 20 lakh people in as many as 80 unauthorised colonies in North / North-East Delhi and took stock of the situation on ground, officials said.
VK Saxena, who has been receiving repeated requests from residents of different unauthorised colonies in the capital to visit their areas and help them address the glaring lack of civic amenities, had last visited Kirari on February 10. He will be further visiting such colonies, said officials.
Walking on foot on various stretches throughout the area, that comprises densely populated residential colonies like Sant Nagar, Nathu Pura, Burari village, Baba Colony and Laxmi Vihar, Saxena was shocked at the lack of basic civic infrastructure and sanitation services that the people are entitled to.
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The Delhi LG was informed that pending since years, only 70 per cent of the areas had been provided with sewage lines till now by the Delhi Jal Board and even in these, connections to households are yet to be done.
Similarly, out of the 80 colonies in the area, roads have been constructed only in 17 colonies. Even as the main road from Outer Ring Road leading into the area house showrooms of top brands in the country, the road itself is in a pathetic condition due to neglect and lack of repair.
Apart from dust-filled streets, open drains — which are choked and overflowing — dotted the entire stretch of colonies. Garbage from the area is being disposed on the Yamuna floodplain itself, despite the Bhalaswa Landfill site being in close vicinity of the area, the officials noted.
Locals brought to the Delhi LG’s notice that the sewer lines, being laid on the main road, for years now, had apparently not taken into account prospective needs of the area, owing to the fact that it had a mere 1.5 metre diameter, which is insufficient even to meet the existing drainage requirements.
Additionally, the delay in the laying of these lines, that entailed open excavated roads, had resulted in the persistent problem of traffic congestion, dust and C and D waste pollution, apart from being a constant hazard for pedestrians and two-wheelers.
Even the supposedly “restored” water body in Burari village, that was shown to the LG, was filled with sludge and debris, with drains and sewage flowing into it.
The Delhi LG was anguished that such apathy on part of the government agencies had led to the pitiable living conditions in one of the most densely populated areas of the city.
The people of the area also complained about encroachment of roads by shopkeepers leading to traffic jams at peak hours and the lack of last mile connectivity and absence of Delhi Transport Corporation buses.
