Made with reference to GNCTD volte-face on its idea to approach court and to previous communications about industries, informal sector, etc

Ref: CVC letter re hawkers, previous letters re industries, etc

Dear Ms Vidyavathi,

With reference to CVC’s letter of 10.09.04, a letter about a news report about DDA seeking police assistance for “vendor menace” is enclosed for your information. Also enclosed is text of a news report quoting Delhi industries’ minister as saying they are not filing their long-promised review petition since they “do not have a convincing argument”, apropos which I reiterate my request for PMO intervention for compliance through the statutory solution by DDA/MoUD.

I am aware of apparent “consensus” against DMP, and also that this is contrived, emanating only from recent criticism (of development via statutory plans), yet to progress to theory and in Delhi, where DMP is connected to a unique public land policy, even to ideas of any robustness. The state, in any case, is duty-bound to enforce statutory solutions and use them as yardstick to evaluate alternatives. And statutory DMP solutions for informal sector and industries account for bulk of employment options for the weaker sections in the Capital and continuing MoUD/DDA indifference and growing GNCTD interference in their regard are contrary also to NCMP.

I would be grateful for opportunity to discuss NCMP-DMP convergence ideas and, apropos industries in particular, request an appointment with urgency.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely

Gita Dewan Verma, Planner

Related news

  • DDA seeks cops’ help in controlling vendor menace at Nehru Place, Times of India, 30.09.20041
  • Industry worker dies, protesters spit fire, Times of India, 02.10.20042
  • 1. DDA seeks cops’ help in controlling vendor menace at Nehru Place
    Times of India, 30.09.2004

    New Delhi: The Delhi Development Authority has sought the assistance of police in helping it control the squatter and illegal vendor menace at Nehru Place.

    Despite repeated drives to remove the illegal vendors in the commercial complex, Delhi Development Authority has completely failed to keep them at bay. It has finally thrown up its hands and asked for help.

    Commissioner (land management) has written to deputy commissioner of police (south) Praveer Ranjan, asking for help.

    In the letter, the commissioner (land management) has pointed out that Nehru Place commercial centre is a buffer zone and should be kept clear of roadside vendors.

    A senior Delhi Development Authority official said: “We have been conducting drives, but these vendors keep coming back. It is also the job of the police to check them because without the connivance of the local police these people cannot thrive. That is why a letter has been written, to ask the police to keep a regular check. The beat constables can also help in this”.

    Delhi Development Authority had conducted a drive on July 31 to remove the squatters but the returned within a week.

    According to the official, “Earlier the vendors used to have temporary shops, but now they have started encroaching and putting up small tarpaulins also.”
  • 2. Industry worker dies, protesters spit fire
    Times of India, 02.10.2004

    SDM’s Team Pushed Victim, Allege Owners; Officials Deny

    New Delhi: An industry worker died following a heart attack on Friday afternoon at Rampura in Trinagar area, when identification of polluting industries was being carried out by the area sub-divisional magistrate (SDM). Unit owners blocked Rohtak road and the railway line in protest and the police had to lathicharge the mob.

    The victim, Mam Chand (45) operated a lathe machine. The incident occurred at around 1:30 pm, when a team comprising the SDM, officials of NDPL, DJB accompanied by area police were in the process of disconnecting water and electricity connections of F category industries.

    Accusations were flying thick and fast. While industrialists alleged that the SDM’s team had pushed the victim, the Delhi government stated the SDM’s team was not present on the spot when the incident occurred.

    “After surveying 24 industries, the team had disconnected the electricity supply of 8 F category industries. While the team members were at the premises of a plastic ball manufacturer, they heard that someone had died of a heart attack… there was no interaction between the survey team and the deceased,” a Delhi government statement said. It was after this that the team is said to have visited the spot. The activity was subsequently called off.

    Earlier last month, an industry owner collapsed following a heart attack and later died while protesting against the closure of industries in Vishwas Nagar in east Delhi.

    The victim, Deepak Bhatia (42), ran a printing press in the area. Here, too, police had to resort to lathicharge to control the crowd.

    Meanwhile, with the October 7 deadline for F category industries drawing near, the government made it clear it will not approach the Court on the issue. “We do not have a convincing argument. We will just implement the court orders,” industries minister Mangat Ram Singhal said on Friday.

    The government had earlier said it will file a review petition in court, asking them for more time to regularise industrial areas with heavy concentration of industries.

    The government had, up till Thursday cut the water and electricity supply of about 1,000 industries. Almost 4,000 industries have been surveyed till now, Singhal added. The action has, understandably, irked the industry owners who allege that the government was not only taking away their livelihood, but also putting an end to Delhi’s commerce.