Vijay K. Saluja
Senior Fellow[urban studies]
Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi
Sector 22, 23 of Dwarka-a sub-city, located in the South-West Delhi district of NCR Delhi are at the southern-most end of this sprawling colony, developed by Delhi Development Authority. As learnt, it is one of the largest residential areas in Asia & is expected to have `zero-tolerance` policy towards common misuses of land including encroachment etc.
The sectors have well-laid out wide roads with footpaths on most of the roads & as well greenery-trees & shrubs. Besides, it boasts of very well-appointed schools with nice buildings & infrastructure i.e. social & two well designed malls-one in each sector.
Perhaps, this could have been the reason to attract well educated, connected & placed owners & tenants to its various high-rise apartments .These are gated communities. Various RWA`s looking after the management & maintenance of their precincts are doing a reasonably good job. But the happy story just ends at the gates of each society premises?!
STATE OF INFRASTRUCTURE
Outside the gates, the sector`s infrastructure/civic services are not in the desired state of maintenance? Potholed roads, broken footpaths with missing tiles etc., their state aggravated by the agencies laying optical fibres using trenchless technology, & pipelines etc., scattered garbage alongside the footpaths, pets poo on roads/footpaths & ill-maintained dividers/greenery barring a few, meets the eye, wherever one goes!
MALLS
The position is really grave in the two malls? Here, it appears, it is free for all?? There is no concept of any enforcement of laid down rules & regulations for running the shops within the allotted areas, parking of vehicles, proper use of the well provided basements, prescribed putting up of proper signages, use of public spaces, maintenance of complex i.e. the toilets etc etc.?!!
Why it is happening? Why the concerned authorities are not checking?Why the Traders Associations are not doing their prescribed duties?In case the office bearers want to do their assigned jobs of doing proper management of the complex, then what are their constraints?
CIVIC ORGANISATIONS
These are some of the questions which comes to mind..DDA, MCD,Police, Traffic Police DJB, BSES are some of the main civic authorities ,responsible for ensuring management of sector 22 ,23, like any other sectors/colonies.But, why despite the posting/ presence of the officials of all these agencies, the mayhem continues unabated!! ?Why no proper supervision, why no overseeing,why no proper guidance by the concerned officers at various levels of each departments??
Besides these, there are elected representatives of the area-Corporators, MLAs, MP who have the moral responsibility to discharge ie to ensure proper development/ upkeep & the redressal of various grievances of the residents/traders living/operating in these sectors.
PARKING
What is the use of elite schools in this area if the management do not take up cudgels to take up with the authorities ,to make area properly maintained/ better.Though,their large presence in these two sectors have exacerbated the parking & traffic problems in this residential area. If there is ingress & egress of so many vehicles in this area,what is preventing the authorities from planning & constructing multi-storeyed parking. Besides providing much needed facility, these can be big source of earning REVENUE for the concerned authorities-DDA,MCD.
ROLE OF COMMUNITY
The role of community is very imperative in supplementing the efforts of the municipal authorities. Sizable percentage of the residents are retirees from prominent positions from the public & private sectors. They are well aware ,healthy willing community group to lend their voluntary services to the civic authorities.
There are many who are doing their bit to improve their neighbourhood. One such voluntary group of senior citizens known as `SUKH DUKH KAY SAATHI` is doing a good job of helping/associating with the horticulture-staff in maintaining some prominent gardens in Sector 22. The joint efforts have reaped good dividends?
The said parks are really well maintained & are blooming with flowers of all types at this time of the year.
TRAINING OF CIVIC OFFICIALS
This example needs emulation for upkeep of malls, roads, footpaths of these sectors. The concerned staff of the civic bodies need to be trained properly in areas of seeking help from community, working for/with the community as is being done in most of the other countries viz UK,Singapore, Japan,Malaysia
Regarding the state of services in this area & other issues, it will be dealt in the next part.