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

Kushak Drain Environmental Issues

Minutes of Meeting at the Engineer Member office, DDA, on 11^th August 2016

Agenda: On the directions of National Green Tribunal in the matter of: Rajeev Suri Vs DDA and others; The Hon’ble Tribunal directed DDA to "to consider environmental impacts and positive steps that can be taken in regard to the drain in Defence Colony", 

As a consequence of this direction the meeting was convened at 5 pm at the EM office of DDA.

Following were present:

Dr. Mahesh Kumar: Hon'ble Engineering Member, DDA

Rajeev Suri: Applicant in Person

DCWA: President Malik, EC members Himanshu Malhotra, Prem Narain and special invitee Sunil Batra

GK WA: Counsel representing residents

DDA: EM, Ex Eng, SDO, Chief Eng. Project Mgr.

Jal Board: Various officials

Counsel for DDA

Other officials of EM Secretariat

Since the Kushak drain covering project was undertaken by DDA without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and hence no Environment Clearance (EC) obtained, major environmental and health issues plague Defence Colony as a result of this ill-conceived project.

Following Points were discussed:

1.   Creating a culet (central drain) at the drain floor as existed earlier to channelize the sewage flow.

2.   Correcting the gradient for sewage to flow out rapidly, rather than accumulate as cess pools below the covered area which has given rise to an exponential increase in Vector Borne diseases in the vicinity.

3.   Covering the balance portion left uncovered towards railway line side where stagnant water lagoons fester pestilence.

4. Evolving a methodology of cleaning the drain as side entrances are too narrow to permit the entry of a vehicle.

5. Mechanism to exhaust and evacuate toxic gasses accumulation below, in the covered drain area.

6.   Activating the non-functional water harvesting pits.

7.   Correction the surface park depressions to prevent water stagnation, to enable it to drain out speedily.

8.    Major civil work issues on the surface; repair of walking track, replacing cladding tiles, missing inspection trap covers etc.

9. Water logging on the surface after rains. This point was for immediate attention.

10.   Creating a STP upstream, so that only treated water reaches Defence Colony, as no pollution was added by this colony.

11. Horticulture and plantation issues as envisaged in the initial covering project.

The EM directed Jal Board officials present to consult with their drainage department, and to reconvene the meeting with instructions on what positive steps can be taken to eradicate the highly polluted toxic water entering Defence Colony.

The meeting adjourned with a thanks to the chair, to reconvene on 24^th Aug 2016 to finalize positive interventions by both DDA and Jal Board to ensure mitigation of the above points discussed. 

Minutes prepared by: Rajeev Suri