Govt detours panel,gets projects going

While the commission is supposed to look at aesthetic and environmental aspects of all projects,among its other functions,the Delhi government has now taken matters into its own hands. In some cases,say officials,the government has approached the Centre directly for permission to execute projects earlier rejected or put on hold by the commission.

A senior Delhi government official said the government has approached the Centre and Lieutenant -Governor Tejendra Khanna on at least three occasions for sanctioning proposals that were earlier put on hold by the DUAC. An official said DUAC had refused permission on two projects — redevelopment of Chhatrasal Stadium and the Salimgarh Fort project; that is the Ring Road bypass connecting East Delhi to the Outer Ring Road. The commission had objected to the felling of trees to pave way for the projects.

“We approached the Lieutenant -Governor (L-G) last month,” the official said. “He has cleared both projects — in Delhi, the L-G is the final authority on cutting down trees.”

The official said in the case of redeveloping Chhatrasal Stadium,while the government has received permission from the L-G,the project did not cut down five trees,which had become a bone of contention between the government and DUAC. “We kept these trees as a symbolic gesture to DUAC and,instead,cut down parking space for 50 cars in the stadium,” the official said.

‘Projects need to advance’
Similarly,after the DUAC repeatedly rejected the Barapullah Nallah project,slated for completion before next year’s Commonwealth Games,the government approached the Group of Ministers (GoM) for sanction. The project involves construction of an elevated corridor over Barapullah Nallah from Sarai Kale Khan to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for the movement of 10,000 players during the Games. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had also announced that the corridor was to become a permanent link between East Delhi and other parts of the city.

“We have to be ready for the Games,” the official said. “These projects need to be expedited — we no longer have the luxury of taking every plan to DUAC. However,the Centre has been kept in the loop.”

DUAC chairperson Prof K T Ravindran said,“I have seen a lot of work taking place at the Barapulla Nalla but the plans have not been brought to this commission. This is not a problem between the Delhi government and the DUAC. It should be a matter of concern for each citizen.”

The DUAC has also shot down the Dikshit government’s proposal to develop and beautify five entry points to the Capital,the proposed flyover at ITO (officials say the reason given is that there isn’t enough traffic at ITO to justify a flyover),and several quick links proposed by the Haryana government to link Gurgaon and Faridabad to Delhi.

Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta told Newsline that while plans were still being sent to DUAC,a number of projects had been sanctioned by either the L-G or the Centre to ensure they are completed before the Games.