Hotilal

(MPISG convenor (education), in continuing pursuit of DMP rights for education, infringed by unlawful development / attendant evictions and resettlement) 14.10.2004

Translated Text

MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT GROUP

A synergy platform of citizens' groups with legitimate stakes in benefits of planned development

Pr Secretary-cum-Commissioner DDA, Vikas Sadan B Block, INA, N Delhi

Sub: Public Notice for regularizing commercial development on riverbed: Objection and suggestion

Sir,

After disposssion of citizens from the riverbed, going on since the beginning of the year, by Public Notice of 18 September Central Government has now proposed Master Plan modification for a commercial IT Park already under contruction there. We object to this latest example in the trend of wilful evictions for wilful projects, playing havoc with school education.

An account of our efforts since 2000 in pursuit of education rights connected to shelter rights under the Master Plan is available in our court cases, public notice responses, view invited bu Standing Parliamentary Committee, letters with detailed suggestions to officials, etc. In the same context we had raised several questions about Pushta evictions.

When the demand for postponing Pushta clearance till after examinations was being made, we had brought to the attention of government the matter of a demolition notice against illegal construction by a well-known school in Vasant Kunj in which the court had lately granted this relief till end of the academic year. Even after Pushta residents raised this in their representation of 04.02.2004, government did nothing.

After the eviction of 13.02.2004 in Pushta clearance, even school buses till examinations were not provided, despite assurance given to court. After seeing the conditions in Holambi Kalan, with reference to the announcement, along side the start of the drive to evict in disregard of the need to study, for allowing in view of the need to party illegal use of farmhouses for parties against payment of a fee, we demanded in our letter of 18.02.2004 a comparable policy for postponing further demolitions till after examination and offered to collect the “fee” for this. Our questions about sub-standard resettlement with school facilities short of standards and incapable of providing the 25% free seats benefit ordered by court still stand.

On 30.05.2004 the Chief Minister said about facilities in Bawana that there was shortage only of crematorium. On 06.07.2004 there was a news report of deaths of those evicted from Pushta in Bawana. In the context of proposed eviction / resettlement to Bawana from Lal Khet near Vasant Kunj, where demolition action against the well-known school had not been taken even after examinations, we wrote a letter on 07.07.2004, which has been forwarded for action as per letter of 06.09.2004 from CVC. On 27.07.2004 a small school teaching the non-rich was buldozed without notice, about which we wrote on 28.07.2004 in continuation of our letter of 07.07.2004 a letter that President Secretariat and NAC letters of, respectively, 03.08.2004 and 26.08.2004 said had been forwarded for.

Meanwhile, on 29.07.2004 Ll Khet was cleared in a Pushta-like operation and on 22.09.2004 the court issued notice in PIL challengingthe project, among others in the ridge area, requiring this clearance. Neither has work on the unplanned projects stopped, nor has action on the infringement of education rights by it started.

Likewise, the questions raised about Pushta evictions stand waiting for answers, while for an illegal commercial commercial encroachment benefitting from Pushta clearance, work on which was lauded by CM herself on 05.02.2004, land use change is now proposed after dispossessing children, without a care for their education or lives, in name of encroachment removal. We object to the history being written with this Public Notice belying government’s explicit commitments made in NCMP for the poor and education. We suggest this Public Notice be withdrawn and this encroachment be cleared by Children’s Day so that at least the image of Chacha Nehru remains worthy of faith of our children.

Yours sincerely,

Sd/-

Hoti Lal, Convener (Education)

Enclosed:

Letters of 04.02.2004, 18.02.2004, 07.07.2004, 28.07.2004 and [26.08.2004]

To support planned development. To oppose unplanned development. To protect our future.