Letter of 31.05.2001

Mr P.K.Hota,

Vice Chairman, DDA

Sub: Residents’ concerns about DDA’s ‘planned’ development in Vasant Kunj: Regarding HAWKERS

Dear Mr Hota,

You would recall our letter dated 02.05.2001 in which we had requested a copy of the approved layout plan, which was handed over to us by the Commissioner (Planning) on 17.05.2001. After cursorily examining the plan we wrote a letter on 18.05.01 to reiterate our concerns about your proposed community centre and new pocket of flats. We have identified a number of other aspects that we will be writing to you shortly about.

Meanwhile, one Ms Verma, a resident has sent the Federation a copy of a fax she has sent to you today regarding hawkers. We understand that the Master Plan has detailed provisions for providing space for hawkers, which DDA has ignored in the course of its development of Vasant Kunj. We believe that hawkers in Vasant Kunj provide useful services to flat residents. Their haphazard location, however, sometimes becomes problematic. If there are statutory provisions through which they can be systematically located this should be done immediately.

We also share Ms Verma reservations about the authorities’ ‘priorities’ in the matter of removal of encroachments in Vasant Kunj. The hawkers may be the ‘easiest’ for the authorities to remove but for us they are, probably, the least problematic. We believe the DDA and MCD should prepare a prioritised action plan for removal of encroachments in Vasant Kunj according to how serious a nuisance various ‘illegal’ encroachments pose to the ‘legal’ residents. Our Master Plan Implementation Support Group will be glad to send you a proposal in this regard.

As we have mentioned in our letter to Mr Risbud, we appreciate very much DDA’s positive and prompt response to our suggestion of working together to ensure that Vasant Kunj develops strictly according to the Master Plan. We hope that you are already considering our suggestions regarding reviewing your plans for the Community Centre and new flats and will also consider the suggestions made above. We are very interested to know DDA’s views on all these suggestions and look forward to an immensely productive participation with you in making planned development a reality.

Warm regards

O N Shukla, Chairman

cc for favour of information:

Ms Shiela Dikshit, Hon’ble CM and Chairperson, Bhagidari Cell (Regn.No. BDRWASW55)

cc: others as per the cc list in the enclosed fax sent by Ms Verma