Letters of 22.04.04 to Ministries of Urban Development, Environment and Tourism, suggesting urban agriculture and community-owned eco-visitation on riverbed, etc

GITA DEWAN VERMA

1356 D I, VASANT KUNJ, NEW DELHI – 110070; Ph: 26132921, 26895840; eml [email protected]

22.04

Mr N N Khanna
Secretary, MoUD, GoI
Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi – 110011

Sub:          Cutivators’ settlements on Yamuna riverbed – imperatives under DD Act and Master Plan

Ref:            Copies of my letters dated 05.04.04 and 13.04.04 to Commissioner Planning, DDA

Dear Sir,

In my letters under reference I have argued that expansion of cultivation and attendant development of cultivators’ settlements is a riverbed use that is not only desirable from environmental and heritage/tourism perspectives but also an imperative of Delhi Development Act / Master Plan.

Since 1962, nearly nothing has been done to implement statutory Plan provisions for village-like settlements (as contended in WP 8523/2002) and even special bye-laws for them have not been framed (as admitted to Hon’ble Supreme Court, as mentioned in my letter of 19.11.03, as well as in MCD-USAID-NIUA Consultative Workshop on 20.04.04). Likewise, mandatory special significance project for riverfront has not been prepared and legal Zonal Plan for riverbed has not been notified. Obviously, all schemes / proposals for village-like settlements and in riverbed are, therefore, ad-hoc.

While continuing to seek clarification about techno-legal basis of ad-hoc interventions in disregard of Delhi Master Plan, I also seek consideration of suggestion for restoration of Yamuna riverbed to urban agriculture (with village-based settlement development, heritage and eco-tourism interventions) after clearance of all encroachments as per High Court directions. This suggestion is made within ambit of s.10 and s.11A of Delhi Development Act in absence of mandatory Public Notice process and only because it is wholly consistent with Delhi Master Plan as well as with CGWA notification under EPA and Tourism Ministry’s decision to develop village tourism. I am enclosing my letters in this regard to Secretary Enviroment and Secretary Tourism.

An NGO working with concerned communities, a firm experienced in building community capacity for village-based eco-tourism and multi-disciplinary experts conversant with ridge-riverbed issues have expressed willingness to collaborate with riverbed cultivator communities on an initiative in pursuit of Master Plan objectives. Therefore, I also seek clarification of process(es) by which riverbed / village proposals are being considered / cleared in absence of Zonal Plan, byelaws, etc, so that concerned communities can take advantage of offers of those with expertise relevant to them and also submit for consideration their proposal consistent with Master Plan objectives.

Lastly, apropos the copy of letter from cultivators in Tejpal Ki Bagichi area, enclosed with my letter of 13.04.04 under reference, I seek directions for response to clarification sought about mistaken demolitions of cultivators’ homesteads on 09.04.04 in the drive to clear jhuggis, especially since a so-called farmhouse, etc, are still standing in the area in defiance of court orders.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely

Gita Dewan Verma / Planner

cc:

  • Secretary, Ministry of Tourism
  • Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests

GITA DEWAN VERMA

1356 D I, VASANT KUNJ, NEW DELHI – 110070; Ph: 26132921, 26895840; eml [email protected]

22.04.2004

Dr Prodipto Ghosh
Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forests, GoI
Paryavaran Bhawan, CGO Complex Lodhi Road
New Delhi – 110003

Sub:       Cutivators’ settlements on Yamuna riverbed – riverbed conservation opportunities

Ref:         MCD-USAID-NIUA Consultative Workshop on Building Byelaws for Delhi, IHC, 20.04.04, etc

Dear Sir,

I am encouraged to write to you because of MoEF involvement in World Bank supported study on Environment and Infrastructure imperatives for Delhi 2021 and in the subsequent bye-law reform initiative under reference, in list of key functionaries for which your name and address are mentioned.

At the Workshop under reference, much was said about environmental imperatives and villages, with which is wholly consistent a suggestion made to DDA by myself as a qualified planner as well as a demand made to it by citizens in three old settlements of riverbed cultivators – viz, to restore Yamuna riverbed to urban agriculture (with village-based settlement development, heritage and eco-tourism interventions) after clearance of all encroachments.

This suggestion/demand is within the ambit of s.10 and s.11A of Delhi Development Act that entitle citizens and experts to scrutinize and comment on development decisions about Delhi and is, in any case, an imperative of the Act in terms of Master Plan land use provisions. It also appears to me wholly consistent with CGWA notification of ridge and riverbed under EPA as well as with Tourism Ministry’s proposal to promote village tourism in Delhi.

I have confirmed feasibility, beyond legitimacy and suitability, of this suggestion with (besides concerned communities, an NGO working with them, scholars conversant with the history of the area, urban designers who have studied it, and a private firm practicing community partnered eco-tourism), scientists with expertise in ground water and village-based technology development and former World Bank consultant with expertise on appraisal of R&R options, including in riverine projects. I am also enclosing, for your information, letters that I am writing in this regard to Secretary Urban Development and Secretary Tourism.

I request of you the following information:

  1. MoEF proposals / clearances for riverbed protection / development (other than re river pollution)
  2. if / how these proposals can incorporate the legitimate demand of cultivator communities
  3. if / how they can incorporate suggestions of those with specifically relevant expertise / experience
  4. (if detailed suggestion / proposal is required), details of formal procedure for submitting the same

(since those I have discussed this with are prepared to collaborate with concerned communities on such an initiative within the ambit of a holistically considered state proposal for the riverbed).

I take this opportunity to extend Earth Day greetings and I do look forward to hearing from you.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely

Gita Dewan Verma / Planner

cc:

  • Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development
  • Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Culure

Encl, as above


 GITA DEWAN VERMA

1356 D I, VASANT KUNJ, NEW DELHI – 110070; Ph: 26132921, 26895840; eml [email protected]

22.04.2004

Mrs Rathi Vinay Jha
Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, GoI
Transport Bhawan, 1 Parliament Street

New Delhi – 110001

Sub:          Cutivators’ settlements on Yamuna riverbed – village-based eco-tourism opportunities

Ref:            ‘Govt plans ‘village tourism’’, Hindustan Times, 13.02.041(text enclosed)

Dear Madam,

Your office was kind enough to advise me to write to you when I enquired on phone about details of the Ministry’s proposal to develop village tourism.

I am a qualified planner and my PhD research on eco-tourism and regional development underscored need for local control for sustainability of both. I had (in 1997) conducted for UPAA a stakeholders’ interphase and also identified opportunities within ambit of World Bank project in Corbett region. I was fortunate to be adviser to a private firm deeply committed to eco-tourism that has since been developing and managing camp sites in cooperation with local communities. All their three sites are now largely in control of local cooperatives. This ‘model’, inclusive of environmentally appropriate O&M in tourism plant as well as convergence with forest, horticulture, etc, development, is, therefore, already ‘tested’ and I am convinced that if local control becomes central to eco-tourism policy, not only will eco-benefits accrue from what traditional know-how and care can most effectively provide to ensure that tourism attraction is maintained rather than eroded but also that the elusive connection between tourism and local development will be realized.

I was inclined to write to you to draw attention to this perspective since the news report under reference suggested to me a tourist-centred rather than village-cenred approach to village tourism. I did not, however, do so because I do not engage in academic discourse and I also do not seek consultancy, etc. I am writing now because earlier this month I chanced upon some very interesting cultivators’ settlements along Yamuna. I have already suggested to DDA, and the communities have demanded of it, restoration of the riverbed to urban agriculture (with village-based settlement development, heritage and eco-tourism interventions) after clearance of all encroachments.

This suggestion/demand is made within ambit of Delhi Development Act s.10 and s.11A entitlements to comment on development decisions about Delhi and is, in any case, an imperative of the Act in terms of Master Plan land use provisions and also consistent with CGWA notification under EPA. I am enclosing, for your information, my letters in this regard to Secretary Urban Development and Secretary Enviroment. I have also confirmed feasibility of the suggestion with, besides concerned communities, an NGO working with them, scientists, urbanists and history scholars conversant with ridge-riverbed issues, and the private firm with experience with building community capacities for village-based eco-tourism. I request of you the following information:

  1. Tourism Ministry’s proposals for village tourism in Delhi and for Yamuna riverbed
  2. if / how these proposals can incorporate the legitimate demand of riverbed cultivators
  3. if / how they can incorporate suggestions of those with specifically relevant expertise / experience
  4. (if detailed suggestion / proposal is required), details of formal procedure for submitting the same

(since those I have discussed this with are prepared to collaborate with concerned communities on such an initiative within the ambit of a state proposal for the riverbed / village-based eco-tourism).

I do look forward to hearing from you. Thanking you,

Yours sincerely

Gita Dewan Verma / Planner

cc:

  • Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development
  • Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests
  • 1. Govt plans ‘village tourism’
    Saurabh Sinha, (New Delhi, February 12)

    Close on the heels of Haryana launching farm tourism, Delhi is soon going to promote some of its villages as a tourist attraction.

    The concept is part of Union Tourism Minister Jagmohan's decision to allot Rs 50 lakh to states to promote villages.

    The idea is to have a taste of India for foreign visitors to Delhi. Since the city has lots of villages, implementing this scheme should not be difficult. "We have identified village Nangli Razapur that's off Mathura Road near Sarai Kale Khan ISBT.

    This place has a rich history. Under British rule, the owners lost their land for opposing the imperialists. As lieutenant governor, I got the patta or title of land returned to their descendants," said Jagmohan.

    Now the place will get spruced up and get connecting roads and an ethnic chaupal and dalaan complete with hukkas within the next five months. This village was chosen because of its strategic location.

    "Foreign tourists going to Agra can easily stop here and get a glimpse of rural India. Orissa and West Bengal have already had success with village tourism," said Jagmohan.

    A tourism industry source said foreign visitors have to be offered newer reasons to return to the country. "Our real strength lies in our heritage and rural life. These things leave foreign tourists awe-struck. Or instance, many people going to Jaisalmer spend a night in tents near sand dunes," he said.

    *****************

    Taste of India

    ** Foreigners on their way to, say, Agra can stop by at Nangli Razapur village.

    ** They will get to see a panchayat, smoke a hukka... anything that will have them raving about ‘Incredible India’