Earth Day 2014

Good evening friends,

Today is earth day, much celebrated world over but of little recognition in India. Lets make a start by

documenting the 'Trees of Defence Colony' based on a great article in today's Times of India, which 

I'm sure quite a few of us must have seen and read, for ready reference, here's the link

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Click-trees-near-you-save-record-for-future/articleshow/34066736.cms

This gives us a citizen's initiative to document our trees. We could camera shoot the
'Trees of Defence Colony' & upload the photos on the India biodiversity portal, 
http://indiabiodiversity.org

Further please find herewith an attachment to an extremely interesting publication by the Delhi Govt. 

called 'Common Trees of Delhi'. Simple and easy to understand, it really is a beginners guide to trees

around us.

Keeping mother earth smiling

For Friends of Defence Colony

Trees of Delhi (1).pdf

Shri Balvinder Kumar  

Vice Chairman,

Delhi Development Authority

New Delhi

Dear Sir, 

Subject: Appeal to RESTORE land degraded and ravaged by DDA  at the entrance of Defence Colony

Further to my various emails sent to yourselves on the subject of toilets being constructed illegally by DDA at the entrance of Defence Colony,(copy of the last mail appended below as a trailmail), I now write to you to restore the environmental damage done by yourselves.

I am for your ready reference, attaching a few photos to show you the extent of damage done by DDA to the land. These photos, Sir, show you the extend of the degradation of the environment, land and ecosystem that this construction had entailed. Now that all such construction in the Kushak Drain has been stayed by the National Green Tribunal,, the restitution of the degraded environment is mandated by the Tribunal. 

Consequently, Sir, we appeal to your honourable self and organisation to proceed with the restitution of this area, and take all measures at your command to restore thee colony's land to its pristine position.

Yours faithfully

3 Attachments

 

 

 

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Shri Balvinder Singh,
Vice Chairman,

Delhi Development Authority

New Delhi

Dear Sir, 

Subject: Urgent appeal to STOP CONSTRUCTION of public toilets at the entrances of Defence Colony

I bring to your attention Public Toilets being constructed by DDA at the entrance of Defence Colony, New Delhi 110024, D Block side, parallel to DDA Shopping Complex, in complete violation of aesthetics, civic planning norms and needs of this residential area. 

As you can imagine, placing toilets at the entrance of the colony is an aberration in planning, lacks vision and foresight, and will be a permanent reminder of disastrous civic planning. At the present moment, we are grappling with garbage dumps at the colony entrances, which were constructed in an era of resident indifference and apathy. Not so anymore, residents are much more alert and aware, and will not accept construction on public land of the colony, that is contrarian to the views of the citizens of the colony.

Since these toilets being constructed presumably as conveniences for the Park created by covering the central Nullah in Defence Colony, the planners from DDA have decided to place these toilets outside the park and at the main entrance of Defence Colony. Such a positioning makes it unusable for walkers and visitors as it is in the extreme edge of the park, and outside a fenced sports area. These facilities would have been imminently more usable if the toilets had been placed inside the park, where they were more approachable rather than at the extreme end, and that too on the outer side. Placing the toilets thus at the extremities of the park will not serve the purpose its being made for; i.e. in case residents and walkers / visitors urgently needed to use these facilities.

Further being placed as they are, at the head of the park Ring Road end, it would probably emerge as a public toilets for Moolchand Complex, Andrews Gunj, jhuggi clusters across the Ring Road, and sundry individuals of the vicinity. It would also emerge as a crime center with drug users smoking smack, and Hijras soliciting customers.

We also know the hygiene levels of public facilities in our city, we already have to deal with the stench of garbage, rotting and overflowing on the roads, now we’d have the stench of toilets to welcome us when we enter the colony.

You can imagine Mr. Vice Chairman Sir, such a situation has not be welcomed by any of the residents,and a huge discontentment exists on these toilets being imposed on the colony. Sir, you and your colleagues, on a site inspection, would be amazed at the complete lack of civic thought and planning that has been applied by your august organisation.

I therefore would implore you to get this construction stopped forthwith, and engage in an debate with the residents on a more suitable place for these conveniences. In view of greater transparency sought and assured to citizens, public discourse and debate must be undertaken to make our colonies a better place to live in.

I look forward to your urgent intervention in this matter and before more construction takes places, get it stopped immediately.

Yours Faithfully,

Rajeev Suri

D 68 Defence Colony,

New Delhi 110024

Mobile 9810304580

Dated 28.02.2014

The CEO  

Delhi Parks and Garden Society

Govt. of National Capital Territory of Delhi

“C” Wing, 6th Level, Delhi Secretariat Building, I P Estate,

New Delhi 110002

Sir,

Subject: Adoption of parks by residents of Defence Colony, New Delhi

We write to you as residents of Defence Colony, New Delhi 11024, which once the greenest colonies of South Delhi. 

When this colony was established, it was laid out with an abundance of parks, playfields, function grounds, forest areas and miscellaneous open spaces. However, with a passage of time,  large chunks of lands have been taken over by shopping cum office complexes, private schools, religious institutions, dance academy’s and so on. Further, urbanization necessitated widening of roads, building bypasses, underpasses, clearings for metro stations & paths and so on, the green belts that have gradually receded to just a few shrubs or trees. 

Defence Colony was planned with parks in close proximity to the houses, so that the residents could get to use these 'lungs'. These parks are being maintained by SDMC, and as such precludes residents participation. Just recently, the DDA has constructed a park by covering a drain called the Kushak Nullah, which runs right through Defence Colony, and has created a park above it. This park is to be / has been handed over to the SDMC for maintenance.

Sir, we residents would like to participate in the horticulture planning and management of this park, to create one of the finest parks in this area.

Consequently, we would ask you to instruct DDA / SDMC to engage with ourselves to plan and implement the horticultural practices of this park.

  

Since monsoons are fast approaching, we look forward Sir, to your urgent attention in the matter. Since governance now is based on transparency and participation of communities, we would be grateful for including us in all aspects of this project.

Yours faithfully

Rajeev Suri

D 68 Defence Colony,

New Delhi 110024

Mobile :9810304580

19.04.2014

The Lt Governor GNCTD

Through

The Principal Secretary to LG,                                                                            19.04.2014

Govt. of National Capital Territory of Delhi

Delhi  

Sir,

Subject: Appeal to restore the Green Belts around Defence Colony, New Delhi

We write to you as residents of Defence Colony, New Delhi 11024, which once the greenest colonies of South Delhi. Unfortunately today it stands vastly denuded, and if urgent effective steps are not taken, what is left of the vegetation, greenery and forest areas, will disappear in time to come.

When this colony was established, it was laid out with an abundance of parks, playfields, function grounds, forest areas and miscellaneous open spaces. However, with a passage of time, vested interests either encroached or obtained legal allotment by government for their activities. The net result is large chunks of lands have been taken over by shopping cum office complexes, private schools, religious institutions, dance academy’s and so on.

Further, since urbanization necessitated widening of roads, building bypasses, underpasses, clearings metro stations & paths and so on, the soft target has been the green belts that have been gradually diminished to just a few shrubs or trees. In addition land grabbers in the garb of schools, religious monuments etc have encroached on these belts.

Defence Colony was planned with green belts around it, i.e. the Ring Road side in the south, the Lajpat Nagar side in the south east, the railway track side on the north, and the Kotla Mubarakpur side in the west. Each side had a green belt or a buffer of shrubs.

Consequently this colony has lost out on two fronts;

1.    Open areas within the colony has been allotted for purposes other than as intended, i.e. parks and playgrounds,

2.    Green Belts and buffer zones have been encroached and destroyed.

We therefore Sir, request you to urgently take cognizance of this environmental degradation,  receding green belts and protect what remain of it. Our request is the Department of Environment and Forest restores these belts by extensive planting and fencing of these areas. We would suggest the following, as a standard operation procedure:

1.    Clearly mark out the remaining green belt areas

2.    Fence the demarcated areas

3.    Plant perennial shrubs and trees in the demarcated areas, notifying it as forest land.

Since monsoons are fast approaching, we look forward Sir, to your urgent attention in the matter. Since governance now is based on transparency and participation of communities, we would be grateful for including us in all aspects of this project.

Yours faithfully

Rajeev Suri

D 68 Defence Colony,

New Delhi 110024

Mobile :9810304580

The Chief Conservator of Forests,

Department of Environment and Forests 

Govt. of National Capital Territory of Delhi

New Delhi 110002

Sir,

Subject: Appeal to restore the Green Belts around Defence Colony, New Delhi

We write to you as residents of Defence Colony, New Delhi 11024, which once the greenest colonies of South Delhi. Unfortunately today it stands vastly denuded, and if urgent effective steps are not taken, what is left of the vegetation, greenery and forest areas, will disappear in time to come.

When this colony was established, it was laid out with an abundance of parks, playfields, function grounds, forest areas and miscellaneous open spaces. However, with a passage of time, vested interests either encroached or obtained legal allotment by government for their activities. The net result is large chunks of lands have been taken over by shopping cum office complexes, private schools, religious institutions, dance academy’s and so on.

Further, since urbanization necessitated widening of roads, building bypasses, underpasses, clearings metro stations & paths and so on, the soft target has been the green belts that have been gradually diminished to just a few shrubs or trees. In addition land grabbers in the garb of schools, religious monuments etc have encroached on these belts.

Defence Colony was planned with green belts around it, i.e. the Ring Road side in the south, the Lajpat Nagar side in the south east, the railway track side on the north, and the Kotla Mubarakpur side in the west. Each side had a green belt or a buffer of shrubs.

Consequently this colony has lost out on two fronts;

1.    Open areas within the colony has been allotted for purposes other than as intended, i.e. parks and playgrounds,

2.    Green Belts and buffer zones have been encroached and destroyed.

We therefore Sir, request you to urgently take cognizance of this environmental degradation,  receding green belts and protect what remain of it. Our request is the Department of Environment and Forest restores these belts by extensive planting and fencing of these areas. We would suggest the following, as a standard operation procedure:

1.    Clearly mark out the remaining green belt areas

2.    Fence the demarcated areas

3.    Plant perennial shrubs and trees in the demarcated areas, notifying it as forest land.

Since monsoons are fast approaching, we look forward Sir, to your urgent attention in the matter. Since governance now is based on transparency and participation of communities, we would be grateful for including us in all aspects of this project.

Yours faithfully

Rajeev Suri

D 68 Defence Colony,

New Delhi 110024

Mobile :9810304580

19.04.2014

The Secretary, Environment and Forests 

Govt. of National Capital Territory of Delhi

“C” Wing, 6^Th Level, Delhi Secretariat Building, I P Estate,

New Delhi 110002

Sir,

Subject: Appeal to restore the Green Belts around Defence Colony, New Delhi

We write to you as residents of Defence Colony, New Delhi 11024, which once was the greenest colonies of South Delhi. Unfortunately today it stands vastly denuded, and if urgent effective steps are not taken, what is left of the vegetation, greenery and forest areas, will disappear in time to come.

When this colony was established, it was laid out with an abundance of parks, playfields, function grounds, forest areas and miscellaneous open spaces. However, with a passage of time, vested interests either encroached or obtained legal allotment by government for their activities. The net result is large chunks of lands have been taken over by shopping cum office complexes, private schools, religious institutions, dance academy’s and so on.

Further, since urbanization necessitated widening of roads, building bypasses, underpasses, clearings metro stations & paths and so on, the soft target has been the green belts that have been gradually diminished to just a few shrubs or trees. In addition land grabbers in the garb of schools, religious monuments etc have encroached on these belts.

Defence Colony was planned with green belts around it, i.e. the Ring Road side in the south, the Lajpat Nagar side in the south east, the railway track side on the north, and the Kotla Mubarakpur side in the west. Each side had a green belt or a buffer of shrubs.

Consequently this colony has lost out on two fronts;

1.    Open areas within the colony has been allotted for purposes other than as intended, i.e. parks and playgrounds,

2.    Green Belts and buffer zones have been encroached and destroyed.

We therefore Sir, request you to urgently take cognizance of this environmental degradation,  receding green belts and protect what remain of it. Our request is the Department of Environment and Forest restores these belts by extensive planting and fencing of these areas. We would suggest the following, as a standard operation procedure:

1.    Clearly mark out the remaining green belt areas

2.    Fence the demarcated areas

3.    Plant perennial shrubs and trees in the demarcated areas, notifying it as forest land.

Since monsoons are fast approaching, we look forward Sir, to your urgent attention in the matter. Since governance now is based on transparency and participation of communities, we would be grateful for including us in all aspects of this project.

Yours faithfully

Rajeev Suri

D 68 Defence Colony,

New Delhi 110024

Mobile :9810304580

19.04.2014