PHD CHAMBER WISH LIST TO MCD FOR CLEAN DELHI

The PHD Chamber has presented a “WISH LIST” to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for immediate action, which include steps for enhancing civic facilities, elimination of land encroachments, better waste management, improvement of parking facilities and conditions of roads.

“Lack of infrastructure and its maintenance in Industrial areas is the most pressing and burning issue that affects the industry. We are having a continuous dialogue with all layers of Administration including Delhi Government, office of the Lt. Governor, DDA and MCD to take up the matter and to press for speedy implementation taking cognizance of the fast approaching Commonwealth Games and to make Delhi a business and leisure hub,” according to Mr Sanjay Bhatia, President, PHD Chamber.

PHD Chamber feels that the entire city needs to be brought under a decentralized and efficient sewage disposal system to minimize the amount of pollutants entering into the river Yamuna. All colonies should have their own Sewage / effluent treatment plants as well as water recycling plant and the water from these plants should be used for irrigation of the green areas and the local parks. More trees should be planted and these should be environment friendly trees like the Neem and Jamun. Awareness has to be spread about waste reduction and waste segregation at the source itself. There is also need for scientifically developed landfill sites. In the absence of these, there is constant fear of hazardous waste seeping into the soil and the ground water.

Lack of adequate parking space in commercial centres and residential areas has led to traffic congestion and consequent delays in movement of traffic. Since imposition of de-congestion charges to dissuading people from using their private vehicles may not be feasible for a city like Delhi, which has extreme weather conditions, building of more parking spaces seems to be the only solution. There should be underground parking facilities in all the commercial and industrial centers. Those who are violating parking rules should be penalized with heavy fines once these parking complexes come up.

A related issue is the continuous road digging, which causes innumerable difficulties for traffic movement and pedestrians. A system needs to be devised to ensure that digging is reduced and the Department that undertakes digging, repairs the roads to the satisfaction of the MCD. Central verges along the major roads should be uniform and have a life cycle of at least 8-10 years to save wastage of public funds. The rising level of air and water pollution, shrinking green cover and falling ground water levels are a growing concern. Pot holed roads in monsoons, littered garbage, blocked sewers, choked storm water drains, traffic jams, parking on road sides, encroachments on public land, misuse of residential property, etc. all need urgent attention.

There is need for a comprehensive updated compilation of current building bye laws including recent amendments for use by the general public as well as officials of MCD and architects etc. The issue of delay in obtaining completion and occupancy certificates is also a related problem which needs intervention. It should be made time bound. Also,the redevelopment of plots vacated by industries be allowed by adopting flexible/mixed land use after payment of conversion charges.

MCD issued an order in Nov 2004 that no poultry be permitted to be slaughtered in Delhi roads, but there is no implementation as yet. Further, the 'rendering plant' is also using the dead animals from all over Delhi which is not advisable. Dead animals need to be treated in a carcass utilization plant which has to be in the waste dumping yard or where the city waste is stored and should not come in contact with anything that is meant for human consumption. Delhi needs 3 to 4 slaughter houses for poultry birds, which will enable consumers to get quality poultry meat duly certified by health authorities.