22/01/2001: [news item] Development of Bawana progressing very slowly

Development of Bawana progressing very slowly

By Saurabh Sinha

NEW DELHI: Industrialists who are looking forward to the development of Bawana so that they can shift and start work there as soon as possible have a long wait ahead of them. "The Delhi government is trudging along very slowly and giving the plans at the last minute so that the concerned agencies can give their approval hurriedly due to court-set deadline," an official of one of the clearing agencies said on condition of anonymity.

Consider this: The Delhi Small- Scale Industries Development Corporation (DSIDC) submitted the proposed scheme for development of Bawana industrial area to the Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) in the last week of April 2000, at the "conceptual stage". After deliberations, the DUAC sent their observations to the DSIDC on September 27, 2000.

Some of the points raised by the DUAC were: The "physical plan for relocation at Bawana must elaborate how the human element has been taken care of. Like provisions made for relocated worker population, that is expected to be in the range of seven to seven-and-half lakh. Provision of night shelters. Public conveniences. Indicate scheme for solid waste disposal/recycling. Provision for environmental audit for monitoring impact of the project on the environment of the area."

But till date the DSIDC has not submitted the detailed structural plan. "We have not asked them to make any major changes. Two months should have been adequate grounds to resubmit the plan for formal approval through the concerned local body," a DUAC official said.

The DUAC sent a reminder in November also "in view of the importance of the matter."

On their part, DSIDC chief engineer R K Gupta said, "The plan is with the MCD. They further sent it to various agencies for clearance, which have been received. Only the MCD's clearance for stormwater drains has not come as yet."

He assured that the detailed plotted plan would be submitted to the DUAC by Friday. "1,880 acres have been acquired in Bawana. Our aim is to give the plots by May this year with temporary water and electricity connections so that the allottees can start construction. The laying of roads has started and we hope to develop the area by September 2002," Gupta said.

"But this will be possible only if the DSIDC submits the plan, that is if at all they do, at the earliest," a DUAC official remarked. His fears are not baseless as various flyovers and several other constructions that would have an important bearing on the Capital are on in full swing without the DUAC's approval.

Adding to the pressure

NEW DELHI: The DDA's total structural plan for Bawana and Narela is for 2,366 hectares, ie over a whopping 5,800 acres. "Instead of the National Capital Region, such a large development will add to the population pressure here. The migration of workers will put further strain on the already inadequate infrastructure," a government official said on condition of anonymity. Even the master plan of 1962 spoke of developing Ring towns to "deflect population there so that the population of Delhi can be kept to a manageable limit." It further proposed to "deflect four lakh population from Delhi to the Ring towns."

"Now even the Yamuna riverbed is being reclaimed to generate urban activities and lakhs of jobs in the formal and informal sectors," the official said. There are a lot of contradictions between the master plan for 2001 and the Regional Plan-2001. The former wants to earmark land for extensive industry within Delhi urban area and make space for more offices in Delhi only. The latter envisages relocation to the NCR - neighbouring areas of Haryana, UP and Rajasthan.

With the Capital experiencing a shortage of almost all essential services, the urban planners wonder how the additional will people be accommodated