Beautiful Saturday

A beautiful crisp winter morning this Saturday 10th Dec '16, visibility a 6.30 near zero! Nonetheless
a brisk walk with nature, pollution levels down good breathing air quality seems like a perfect way to have started the morning.

Boxy my dog, found her Golden Retriever friend Buddy, and both frolicked with each other, enjoying the freshness of the morning.

Back home now, a cup of tea, and off to the park to do gardening with my mali friends.

I thank thee Oh Lord, for this beautiful morning, and the greatness of the Universe.

Sunday Morning: Watering Green Belts

Air Quality Index (AQI) or Apathy Quantified Index (AQI); the choice is ours.

Air Quality Index (AQI)

Or

Apathy Quantified Index (AQI); the choice is ours.

With casual indifference amongst us urbanites, the very high pollution levels of PM 2.5 > 500 (severe) has come to be accepted as the new normal. Instead of the state of the art, real time monitoring system by the Ministry of Earth Sciences serving as a tool for taking enlightened decisions, it has become just another stock market ticker.

So what can you and I do to improve the air quality of our neighbourhood? Well, quite a bit really, and inversely nothing at all;

For starters, lets understand vehicular pollution is a major contributor to pollution, and living 200 to 500 meters from a major road, (Ring Road in our case) Diesel fumes is a major contributor to the Nitrous Oxides the carcinogenic substance that causes lung cancer. Residents living in the vicinity of the Ring Road are most exposed, and hence prone to Lung Cancer, which will begin to manifest itself amongst residents (unfortunately) over the next few years.

On monitoring the AQI (air quality index) at night, a sharp increase is noticed when trucks are permitted to enter and ply through the city, the Ring Road AQI peaks at approx. 3 a.m. with a toxic haze overhang in the adjacent areas.

Hence, quite obviously, vehicular pollution in our vicinity is a great risk, and despite efforts by NGT to ban 15 year old diesel vehicles, or impose an environmental tax on trucks entering the city, implementation remains tardy, and trucks continue to transit through the city. The Eastern and Western Periphery highways are yet to become a reality, so till then we will have to bear the indignity of breathing noxious diesel fumes.

Long journey’s start with the first step, as residents we can take tiny steps, as desperate times call for desperate measures. In the first instance the most attainable goal within the realm of our possibility would be to plant trees & roadside shrubs all along the periphery of the Ring Road. Again before you flick you hand and say ‘Oh that’s passé; be assured this is the single most effective step residents can take, no permissions required, no red tape and sustainable technology  for all to participate, therefore largely doable. Roadside trees and plants are the first line of defence against vehicular fumes and pollution; are carbon sinks, sequestering Carbon, and releasing Oxygen! Imagine, once these plants establish themselves in the soil, they require very little looking after, acting as sentinels, guarding us against noxious gasses, taking upon themselves the burden of pollution, and giving us Oxygen in return! Truly this is the benevolence of nature.

On the larger picture, we the residents of Defence Colony have to petition the Government of Delhi and / or the Courts for a complete ban the passage of trucks on the Ring Road, which is our constitutional right. Article 21 Right to Life guarantees us the right to clean air, right to a clean environment, and if we are being denied these rights by apathy and negligence of the State, the Courts can direct appropriate authorities for necessary implementation.

Two measures discussed above; one to be done by us residents; with our hands, and the other to coerce a recalcitrant administration.

Shall we leave our armchairs and begin?

Letter to the President DCWA

​To,

The President 

DCWA

The Gumbad,

Defence Colony

New Delhi 110024

Dear Mr. President,

Sub: Utter neglect of the colony, market and its environs​

Kindly find herewith a few photos of the amphitheater park next to Mother Dairy, within the market (the Association of which you are President) and 30 meters away from the Gumbad, the office of Defence Colony Welfare Association (DCWA) off which too, you are President. As such you have the good fortune of being President of both organisations; you Sir, thus hold a very exalted position in Defence Colony. 

There are some issues that are crying for your attention; and are located right in your backyard, so to speak; the attached photos display the utter and complete neglect of maintenance of public utilities and common spaces in the Market. Areas abutting and contiguous to the Defence Colony Market are the show windows of our colony; to the colony residents and visitors, it should be an example of upkeep and maintenance. On the contrary, it has become a cesspool of muck, green areas neglected, abandoned cars, generators on pubic land, drug addicts, sleeping guards and angry disrespectful parking attendants.

You Sir, are in the fortuitous situation as the 'Authority' to command the vast resources at your disposal 4 fold: (1) The resources of the Market as an Association, (2) The resources of the DCWA as the Colony Association (3) The Executive Committee body of the DCWA, (4) The many volunteers of the colony waiting to be harnessed, willing to step forward to assist in upkeep efforts and (4) The Civic Agencies.

Since the hygiene standards of our colony have been deteriorating, and continues to decline sharply, I request you as the President with all executive powers of Defence Colony, delegated to you by a democratic election, to deploy the resources elucidated above to: undertake the following: (respectfully requested)

1. Clean up the muck in the Market & Colony,

2. Clear Gumbad area and Moolchand Complex of unauthorized parking by trucks, commercial vehicles, non resident parking.

As residents, we look forward to a time bound schedule emerging from your Presidential Offices (DCWA & Market) by which date you can get the above issues resolved.

Yours sincerely,

Rajeev Suri

D-68 Defence Colony

New Delhi 110024

M: 9810304580

Request to Delhi Police (Traffic) for action against parking Mafia

To,

The Deputy Commissioner Police​ (Traffic)

South Delhi

Delhi Police,

Delhi

​Dear Sir,

Sub: Re Illegal parking in Defence Colony; Mafia controlling public land.​

A few days ago I wrote to you regarding the menace of illegal parking in Defence Colony. The email is shown below, for which unfortunately, you have failed to take any action:

To,

DCP Traffic

South Delhi,

Delhi Police

Delhi

Sir,

Re: Parking Mafia and parking in service lanes

I bring to your attention the growing trend of vehicles (Tempo Traveler's, Inova's taxis, private cars of offices, such as ICICI wealth in D 58 ) being parked in the service lanes of Defence Colony, which are essentially meant for service vehicles, Fire Brigades, Sewage Cleaning vehicles, SDMC services, and other utility services. By parking vehicles in these service lanes, the colony is being deprived an essential route for emergencies and civic services.These vehicles are mostly non resident vehicles, being parked in this colony due to a lax vigilance on the part of the implementing agencies, the Welfare Association and residents. By way of this mail I'd request all groups in coordination with each other implement a strict policy of "No Parking" in the Service Lanes of Defence Colony.

By this email, I specifically request the following authorities for their active intervention:

1. Delhi Police, with DCP Traffic (South) as the competent authority with ACP Defence Colony acting as Nodal Officer. ( Please consider clamping / tow away of such vehicles). Our earlier email re commercial parking at the 'Gumbad' has met with a feeble response, and a drive to clear the areas is essential.

2. President Defence Colony Welfare Association (DCWA) to ensure no vehicles, park in back lanes, and no trucks, commercial vehicles and non resident vehicles park in the 'Gumbad' of  Defence Colony.

3. Secretary, Defence Colony Welfare Association (DCWA) to ensure implementation of the above.

Further,I request Dy Commissioner SDMC Central, to use all resources at their disposal to prevent such activity, to revisit parking contracts granted by their RP Cell parking contractors, to book them / cancel contracts for a blatant misuse of their limited jurisdiction, having now become a Parking Mafia terrorizing residents.

Yours faithfully,

Rajeev Suri

D 68 Defence Colony,

New Delhi 110024

M 9810304580

​I now attach photos of trucks, commercial vehicles non resident cars parked in areas essentially meant for residents to park their cars whilst visiting market places. However his has been taken over by the parking mafia.

We the residents of Defence Colony now raise a charter of demands on yourselves, as representatives of the Law and Order forces of this city:

1. Remove unauthorized parking from our colony

2. Prevent vehicles from parking in back lanes

3.Stop trespass of vehicles through the colony to avoid traffic signals.

Please inform us a time bound schedule of implementation of the above three point charter.

Yours Faithfully

8 Attachments

 

 

 

Parking Mafia in Defence Colony

To,

DCP Traffic

South Delhi,

Delhi Police

Delhi

Sir,

Re: Parking Mafia and parking in service lanes

I bring to your attention the growing trend of vehicles (Tempo Traveler's, Inova's taxis, private cars of offices, such as ICICI wealth in D 58 ) being parked in the service lanes of Defence Colony, which are essentially meant for service vehicles, Fire Brigades, Sewage Cleaning vehicles, SDMC services, and other utility services. By parking vehicles in these service lanes, the colony is being deprived an essential route for emergencies and civic services.These vehicles are mostly non resident vehicles, being parked in this colony due to a lax vigilance on the part of the implementing agencies, the Welfare Association and residents. By way of this mail I'd request all groups in coordination with each other implement a strict policy of "No Parking" in the Service Lanes of Defence Colony.

By this email, I specifically request the following authorities for their active intervention:

1. Delhi Police, with DCP Traffic (South) as the competent authority with ACP Defence Colony acting as Nodal Officer. ( Please consider clamping / tow away of such vehicles). Our earlier email re commercial parking at the 'Gumbad' has met with a feeble response, and a drive to clear the areas is essential.

2. President Defence Colony Welfare Association (DCWA) to ensure no vehicles, park in back lanes, and no trucks, commercial vehicles and non resident vehicles park in the 'Gumbad' of  Defence Colony.

3. Secretary, Defence Colony Welfare Association (DCWA) to ensure implementation of the above.

Further,I request Dy Commissioner SDMC Central, to use all resources at their disposal to prevent such activity, to revisit parking contracts granted by their RP Cell parking contractors, to book them / cancel contracts for a blatant misuse of their limited jurisdiction, having now become a Parking Mafia terrorizing residents.

Yours faithfully,

Rajeev Suri

D 68 Defence Colony,

New Delhi 110024

M 9810304580

4 Attachments

Respected Officers in service of the Nation,

I forward you a growing trend in this colony of Mafia like groups taking over specific activities, eg. parking Mafia taking over residents land for 'parking for money', the builder Mafia, taking over building activity and building patently illegal buildings, the taxi mafia taking over Aps based taxi services and parking all over the colony, the cash carrying trucks (also a Mafia  controlled by SIS security) parking in Commercial Complex's meant for visitor parking and so on.

The net result is total chaos and mayhem within urban areas of New Delhi, which has begun to resemble Pahar Ganj or Chandni Chowk, known for unplanned development and chaotic traffic.

The respect Minister of Urban Development speaks of AMRUT; do we not have a duty first to protect and maintain our urban areas to as to obviate the necessity of rejuvenation? Should not urban transformation be an ongoing process?

​As a consequence of civic services being delegated to the Municipal Authorities, the success or failure of AMRUT lies with the efficacious functioning of  ​civic bodies. Undoubtedly civic services are had pressed for manpower, resources, time and innovation. However civic bodied do not function in a vacuum, and must carry with them the citizenry they represent.

I therefore request all concerned to heed citizen’s grievances / requests / suggestions such as the one that has been raised by this email but not results has followed.

Rajeev Suri

D 68 Defence Colony,

New Delhi 110024

M: 9810304580

   

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Rajeev Suri <rajeevsuri.cbms@gmail.com>

Date: Fri, Aug 26, 2016 at 7:26 PM

Subject: Re: Mafia takes over residents parking in Defence Colony

To: GNCTD LG Dehi Principal Secretary <seclg@nic.in>, GNCTD LG Office Add Sec <adseclg@nic.in>, GNCTD LG Office <pstolg.delhi@nic.in>, lggc.delhi@nic.in

To,

The Hon'ble Lt. Governor,

GNCTD

Delhi

Your Honor,

Kindly find below a trail mail of emails sent to Commissioner SDMC and to yourselves requesting action against the Parking Mafia in Defence Colony, New Delhi 110024.

This Mafia has taken over land essentially meant for residential related activities, such rights have been ostensibly given to them by SDMC by way of tender / auction by the RP Cell of the SDMC. Despite repeated instructions to the Dy Commissioner RP Cell to furnish details and information, the said cell remains recalcitrant and has taken no action.

Further to the Parking Mafia taking over residents land, they have permitted commercial vehicles such as trucks & taxis, non-residents long term parking in the stated parking areas.

It is our position no parking charges should be leveled in residential areas as it impinges on basic Fundamental Rights. Further, very idea of trucks, commercial vehicles and long term parking of cars by non-residents in residential areas, is repugnant to the principle of a clean non-polluted environment for children and residents to use without fear of being hit or run over, and to be able to breath fresh unpolluted air.

We urge you to give instructions to SDMC to take necessary action, impound commercial vehicles illegally parked, and cancel the parking contract given to the parking Mafia. Parking should be free for residents and visitors to markets for the limited period they visit such areas, and should not usurped by lumpen elements.

Yours faithfully,

Rajeev Suri

D 68 Defence Colony,

N Delhi 110024

M 9810304580

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rajeev Suri <rajeevsuri.cbms@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Aug 25, 2016 at 8:54 AM
Subject: Re: Residents parking being taken over by commercial vehicles trucks/ taxis and non resident vehicles in Defence Colony
To: SDMC Commissioner <commissioner-sdmc@mcd.gov.in>, SDMC PS to Commissioner <pstocommissioner-sdmc@mcd.gov.in>, SDMC Dy Comm Central <dc-central@mcd.gov.in> Veeresh Malik <veereshmalik@gmail.com>

To,

The Commissioner,

SDMC

New Delhi

Sir,

Re: Parking of commercial vehicles e.g. trucks/ taxis and non-resident vehicles in colony parking

I bring to your attention another parking area in Defence Colony meant essentially for residents, being taken over by the Parking Mafia under the garb of having obtained contractual rights from SDMC (yourselves). This Mafia is permitting parking of TRUCKS, TAXIS, other commercial vehicles, long term parking of non resident vehicles, thus depriving residents of their legitimate parking spaces.  

Kindly find attached photos of commercial vehicles i.e. trucks, taxis and vehicles from adjoining colonies, which will clearly show the misuse of parking meant for residents and visitors only. This Mafia now controls the parking at the 'Gumbad' and Moolchand Complex essentially residents parking area. On requesting the truck and taxi owners not to park in this area, residents are faced with hostility, aggression and threats. Necessary action with assistance of Police may be considered by yourselves.

I had by my earlier emails addressed to yourself (reproduced below for ready reference) informed you about the  phenomena in the Local Shopping Centre Moolchand Complex, Defence Colony Ring Road end, where cash carrying vehicles, generators, taxis, soft drink vans etc. that have monopolized the parking in this complex. You had asked the Deputy Commissioner RP Cell to take action and report compliance to Commissioner's office, under copy to the complainant (myself), however no compliance was reported either to yourselves, or to myself. Since such derogation of law, and disobedience of an executive order passed by a superior office (commissioner’s office) to a subordinate office (RP cell) should be investigated by your internal audit system, and dealt with under Rules of Service prescribed procedure.

Hence, the two public parking spaces meant for residents of Defence Colony, have been sold out to Trucks, Commercial Vehicles, Non- Residents Vehicles, who permanently park vehicles in these parking lots. The residents of the colony are being ousted by the Mafia, strong arm Truckers /Taxis, and this dangerous trend may be stymied by yourselves as a public interest cause. 

Your urgent and immediate action is solicited.

Rajeev Suri

D 68 Defence Colony,

New Delhi 110024

M 9810304580

Small bio-diversity hot-spot in Defence Colony

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sunita Narain <sunita@cseindia.org>
Date: 26 August 2016 at 18:11
Subject: Re: Small bio-diversity hot-spot in Defence Colony
To: Veeresh Malik <veereshmalik@gmail.com>

Dear Veeresh,

Thanks for sharing these. I have shared it with my colleagues at DTE for their feedback.

Regards,

Sunita Naraian

Veeresh Malik	5:06 PM (18 minutes ago)
to Sunita, Anumita, me

Dear Sunita and Anumita,

The concept of "Devrai" in the Konkan belt (bio-diversity hot-spots on commons land) can and should be attempted in cities also and not just on larger areas like Ridge and River.

Within Defence Colony there was and is this little park, situated between a DMS booth and a DESU/BSES sub-station, that had remained quite ignored for some time. With the covering up of the storm-water drain (another disaster, as siltation builds up below) the little wild-life that we had appears to have shifted here.

While these are the often seen birds, this spot has seen, suddenly, of late, a fairly large number of common house sparrows returning - they had vanished for the last few years.

This is fyi/g and in case anybody from Down to Earth wants to take a look please?

Best regards / Veeresh Malik

cc: Rajeev Suri

Residents parking being taken over by commercial vehicles trucks/ taxis and non resident vehicles in Defence Colony

Residents parking being taken over by commercial vehicles trucks/ taxis and non resident vehicles in Defence Colony

Rajeev Suri <rajeevsuri.cbms@gmail.com>	8:54 AM (3 hours ago)
to SDMC, SDMC, SDMC, Dutt, Veeresh, DCWA, Major, Brig, Geeta, Ravi, Anujbakshi, Baldev, Gen, Promod, Ajay, Anil, Arun, Deepak, Gaurav, Gen, General, Hardy, Himanshu, Inderjit, Inderjit

To,

The Commissioner,

SDMC

New Delhi

Sir,

Re: Parking of commercial vehicles e.g. trucks/ taxis and non resident vehicles in colony parking

I bring to your attention another parking area in Defence Colony meant essentially for residents, being taken over by the Parking Mafia under the garb of having obtained contractual rights from SDMC (yourselves). This Mafia is permitting parking of TRUCKS, TAXIS, other commercial vehicles, long term parking of non resident vehicles, thus depriving residents of their legitimate parking spaces.  

Kindly find attached photos of commercial vehicles i.e. trucks, taxis and vehicles from adjoining colonies, which will clearly show the misuse of parking meant for residents and visitors only.This Mafia now controls the parking at the 'Gumbad' and Moolchand Complex essentially residents parking area. On requesting the truck and taxi owners not to park in this area, residents are faced with hostility, aggression and threats. Necessary action with assistance of Police may be considered by yourselves.

I had by my earlier emails addressed to yourself (reproduced below for ready reference) informed you about the  phenomena in the Local Shopping Center Moolchand Complex, Defence Colony Ring Road end, where cash carrying vehicles, generators, taxis, soft drink vans etc. that have monopolized the parking in this complex. You had asked the Deputy Commissioner RP Cell to take action and report compliance to Commissioner's office, under copy to the complainant (myself), however no compliance was reported either to yourselves, or to myself. Since such derogation of law, and disobedience of an executive order passed by a superior office (commissioners office) to a subordinate office (RP cell) should be investigated by your internal audit system, and dealt with underRules of Service prescribed procedure.

Hence, the two public parking spaces meant for residents of Defence Colony, have been sold out to Trucks, Commercial Vehicles, Non Residents Vehicles, who permanently park vehicles in these parking lots.The residents of the colony are being ousted by the Mafia, strong arm Truckers /Taxis, and this dangerous trend may be stymied by yourselves as a public interest cause. 

Your urgent and immediate action is solicited.

Rajeev Suri

D 68 Defence Colony,

New Delhi 110024

M 9810304580