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