Wednesday, 31 May 2017

If you worry about the environment, do attend this event in Gurgaon tomorrow

On the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5, Gurgaon will be holding the Gurgaon Environment Conclave on June 1. The event is being organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Gurgaon First, a resident group, under the aegis of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG); and will be held at The Palms, Sushant Lok I. The agenda will largely include discussions on sustainability challenges the city faces.

Rao Inderjit Singh, MoS for Ministry of Urban Development, MoS (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Planning and Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Government of India; and D Suresh, IAS, Commissioner Gurgaon Division, will be present at the event, among other dignitaries.

Important issues such as deteriorating air quality, an impending water crisis and decentralised, sustainable waste solutions will be focus of the conclave.
This residents’ initiative brings together all those worried about the sustainability of this rapidly growing city. The aim is to define a roadmap to provide clean air, clean water, waste-free neighbourhoods, energy security, pollution- and congestion-free mobility, affordable living, and more green areas and forests for the well-being of residents, along with the urban poor.

Bringing together 150 delegates from urban planners, RWAs, architects, civil society groups and even schools, the sessions will provide a roadmap for the development of the city.
The conclave will also host the release of Rao Inderjit Singh's book, Roadmap and Framework For Sustainable Development of Gurugram.
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25-year-old woman shot dead in Sec 62, Noida

In a shocking incident, a 25-year-old woman residing in Shatabdi Rai Vihar, Sector 62, Noida, was shot dead by unknown youth early on Wednesday morning.
The deceased, identified as Anjali Rathore, originally from Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, was working as a team leader in a mobile company in Noida. The police reached the spot and have initiated an investigation into the murder. The police has seized a CCTV footage and some vital clues.

The incident took place around 6.30 am, when Rathore came down to the stilt parking area after receiving a call on her mobile.
According to police, the deceased was living with six other girls in a PG accommodation on the third floor of the society’s B block for the past two and a half years.
AK Singh, SP City, Noida, said that Rathore had come down to the parking around 6.30 am and was shot precisely at 6.34 am. “It is possible that the crime was committed by a close acquaintance who might be a close friend or a relative. All angles are being investigated,” he added.
However, what the police found strange was that even though a gun was fired inside the society, nobody — not even the security guards — heard the gunshot.
Rathore’s fellow PG mates are being questioned by the police about any possible clues to who the murderer could be.
Kamini Bhadouriya, one of the deceased’s PG mates, said she also suspects that the murder was committed by a close friend.
Close relatives of the deceased, who live in the nearby Khoda colony, were informed by the police and reached the spot soon. Rathore’s father is on his way from Haryana.
Speaking to City Spidey, SM Singh, president of RWA Federation of Sec 62 Noida, said that illegal paying guest accommodations were a major reason behind such security lapses in residential societies. “Unlike tenants or flat owners, it’s very difficult to keep track of many paying guests who live in the society. They can just enter the society saying they live here. They also get into frequent tussles with security guards,” added Singh.
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Residents want tobacco sale prohibited once a week

In a first-of-its-kind initiative to observe the occasion of World No Tobacco Day and contribute to cutting down the overall distribution and consumption of tobacco in the Gurgaon, Paras Hospital conducted a candle march to raise awareness among the people.
More than 250 residents participated in the two-kilometer long march from Paras Hospital to Ardee City, with participants from health sectors, RWAs, NGOs and district authorities. They signed a petition to urge the government to stop the use and sale of tobacco products in the city for at least one day in a week.

Dr Neeraj Bishnoi, facility director, Paras Hospital, told City Spidey, “People stay in denial of the perils of tobacco use and smoking, particularly in urban areas. To add impetus to the campaign against tobacco consumption by the government of India and join hands to increase awareness on giving up this unhealthy habit, we are proposing shutting down of all cigarette and tobacco shops in Gurgaon once a week for a tobacco-free India by 2030.” 
Bishnoi added, “With this prohibition on cigarette shops and vendors in the city, we aim to drive a never- before- seen mindset change among the general population along with a stern regulatory nod against smoking and tobacco consumption at the community level.”
Nearly 23.7 per cent of the deaths among men and 5.7 per cent among women (between 35–69 years) in India are due to tobacco-attributable illnesses, says a study published in the Indian Journal of Medical and Pediatric Oncology in 2012. India's tobacco problem is very complex in nature, with large scale use of a variety of smoking forms. Most of what is known about the adverse effects of tobacco is based on the smoking of manufactured cigarettes. In India, other forms of tobacco use are common such as flavored cigarettes, cigars, snuff, gel strip, e-cigarettes, “khaini,” gutka, paan masala and other types of chewable tobacco.
 “In spite of the legislation prohibiting smoking in public places and the pictorial warnings on tobacco products, many educated people in our city continue to smoke and consume tobacco in public. I am glad to be a part of this initiative to observe no-tobacco day once a week,” said Akash Kumar, a 23-year-old college student.
“Tobacco leads to health issues and tobacco use kills nearly six million people worldwide each year, and one million in India. We just want sale of tobacco products prohibited across Gurgaon every Monday, which happens to be most stressful day,” said Chaitali Mehrotra, a resident of Ardee City.
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Ghaziabad: SP City lays stress on importance of CCTV cameras

In a written appeal to residents of high-rises, Akash Tomar, SP City of Ghaziabad, asked residents’ associations on May 30 to recognise the importance of CCTV cameras in residential premises and the benefits of surveillance around living quarters.
Bringing the issue of security to th
e fore, Tomar urged residents of the city to begin thinking of options to protect their homes with technology, which is not only important for commercial ventures but also important for homes and residential societies. The letter states that CCTV cameras offer great help in checking growing number of cases of theft and loot.
Although many residents were impressed by the initiative, some were skeptical and believe that CCTV cameras are effective only after a crime has taken place.
However, speaking to City Spidey, Tomar maintained that the cameras were also a preventive measure as they deterred trespassers from breaking into CCTV-secured premises.
Various other benefits of CCTV cameras were also listed in the letter. These cameras can help recognise miscreants trying to recce houses, help in remote surveillance and in providing video footage of an incident to the police that can be useful in nabbing the miscreants.
The issue of child-abduction was also highlighted in the letter. It stated that CCTV cameras can help in significantly reducing number of cases of child-abduction or missing children.
Speaking to City Spidey, Alok Kumar, patron of FedAOA, said that coordination between the police and the residents is the need of the hour as residents must be well-connected with the police, which would boost confidence of both. Speaking about CCTV cameras, Kumar said that the federation had already urged AOAs to install high quality cameras outside societies so that they can monitor their neighbourhood.
Speaking about the importance of CCTV cameras, the SP said that in his career, there have been multiple instances when CCTV footage helped nab criminals. “In the presence of CCTV cameras, criminals always tend to leave a footprint that can be tracked by the police,” Tomar said.
On community policing, he said that meetings would be held with RWAs and residents regularly to enhance public-police communication from June.
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NGT stays previous order on ground water extraction

Much to the relief of residents of high-rises in Ghaziabad, the National Green Tribunal has decided to stay its previous order to seal bore wells and stop ground water extraction in residential societies in the city. According to sources, taking into consideration the pleas of the residents, the tribunal stayed its previous order till its next hearing on July 13.



Speaking to City Spidey, Sanjeev Singh, the counsel who represented residents, said that the court has stayed the order till July 13 but it stuck to May 31 as the last date for residential societies to file their application in front of the District Magistrate.

Sharat Jha, president of Consortium of Societies Ghaziabad that initially took up the issue with the NGT, said that the order has brought much relief to the people's problem and has come in the face of much confusion among AOAs of the city.
Accoring to sources, the tribunal has also ordered the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) to present a detailed report about the status of the ground water during the next hearing of the case on July 13.

Speaking to City Spidey, Sushil Raghav, a Ghaziabad water activist, said that the orders were passed for both industries and residential areas. "Although several orders were passed by the NGT, none were complied with. Not a single bore well in factories has been sealed till date. The orders have been cut off midway, but at least there has not been any relaxation for commercial extraction of groundwater," added Raghav.
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I’puram Runners to organise charity run for their member

In order to lend a helping hand to a fallen mate, members of Indirapuram Runners (IPR), a group of regular runners from in and around Indirapuram, are set to organise a charity running event in Indirapuram. The event includes a 10 km and a 5 km run, and a 3 km walkathon on the morning of July 30.

The event named “Run for a runner” is for Deepak Muduli, a resident of Express Garden in Indirapuram and an integral member of IPR who met with a car accident on March 2 while driving with his colleagues on the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. Muduli is an IT professional.
The accident left Muduli with severe injuries on his head and in his ribs. Despite several surgeries, Deepak has been in a coma since then and has been undergoing treatment at his home. Apart from the expenses for a 24x7 attendant, the family is also faced with steep expenses of medicines and other requisites.
Shruti, a member of IPR, told City Spidey that the run is being conducted in order to raise funds for Muduli and members are already doing their bit to individually collect money for his treatment.
Members of IPR refer to Muduli as a strong runner who participated in most running events before he met with the accident. 
Speaking to City Spidey, Manjulika Muduli, Muduli’s wife, said, “Deepak's treatment is showing very slow progress and doctors have also told the family that he could take a lot of time to recover.”
Meanwhile, fellow members of the runners group are hoping for a quick recovery so that Muduli can refill the gap in their running team.

Willing participants can visit https://passionstreet.in/event/run-for-a-runner/event-11216441114 to register for the event. Anyone who wishes to extend financial support to Muduli's family for his treatment can contact Shruti Pandey on +91 8527155957, Ravi Maskara on 9899702015, and Gaurav Rawat on 9971080077.
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Dwarka: RWAs want fogging and cleaning of storm water drains

There is a growing demand for fogging and cleaning of storm water drains in Dwarka. Residents’ Welfare Associations are saying that the municipal corporation should take precautionary measures to check dengue and chikungunya cases in the sub city.

SN Vashishtha, president of Akash Ganga Apartments, Sector 6, told City Spidey, “The municipal corporation should take a serious approach towards the issue before the rainy season this year. Last year, the residents in the area were badly affected with dengue and chikungunya. There were more than 20 cases in our society.”
“We tried fogging at the time but it was a late response. This year, we want it a bit earlier and on a regular basis,” he added.

Residents are also saying storm water drains in DDA pockets are choked and are full of filth. Due to this, water stagnates and becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Ved Prakash, president of Rihayashi Apartments RWA, Sector 12, said, "There is an urgent need to clean storm water drains and repair them too. The corporation should also ensure that water does not stagnate. We want proper monitoring and precautionary steps from the authority.”
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‘If its water is not saved, Delhi will not survive’

Rivers are dying. Groundwater is being depleted. And there’s precious little we, as individuals, can do to revive water bodies. Right?

Wrong.
Rajendra Singh, also known as Jalpurush or Waterman, has devoted his life to reviving dead rivers and barren areas, and conserving the planet’s natural resources. Apart from reviving five dead rivers in Rajasthan, he has single-handedly turned 8,600 sq km of barren land into lush forest.
With his name becoming synonymous with water conservation in India, and indeed across the world, he has been the recipient of several prestigious awards such as the the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2001 and the Stockholm Water Prize in 2005.
On a recent visit to Delhi from his hometown Alwar, in Rajasthan, for a water literacy campaign, City Spidey caught up with Singh.
Here are a few excerpts from the interview:
What are your views on India’s groundwater recharge model?
The drainage system of the entire country is in bad shape, and groundwater recharge has been badly affected. Scientific reports say that poor recharge has brought us to an alarming stage of groundwater depletion. If this is not stopped or altered, the country will not survive.
We need a comprehensive approach to come up with a solution for recharging the aquifers. It should include decentralisation of the water management system and involvement of the community. The government, agencies and the community should come together to save the water bodies and recharge the aquifers, or this crisis will not be solved.
What do you think about the claims of the government and the agencies about water conservation efforts in the country?
What efforts? The government is serving neither the nation, nor the planet, as far as water conservation goes. The environment is suffering, and it’s for everyone to see — how satisfied do you think I, or any other environmentally aware resident, will be with their claims?
What do you have to say about the condition of water in Delhi?
Delhi has no sustainable water resource. The Yamuna, which was once the city’s lifeline, is today a dying river — how will it fulfil the city’s water requirements? There are 18 big nullahs that flow directly into the Yamuna, and bring with them all kinds of industrial waste. So just as the Sahibi river has now been reduced to being called the Najafgarh drain, the Yamuna, too, could face a similar future.
And the reason is the city’s poor water-treatment system. How can effluent and industrial waste flow directly into a river? There is a dire need to revive the Yamuna if Delhi has to stand any chance of survival in future. The government should really think about the state of affairs seriously. It needs to manage what flows into the river and what doesn’t, if it has to prevent further water pollution.
How can Delhi increase its water table?
Delhi has great potential for rainwater harvesting. It gets about 1,200 mm of rain per year, which, if harnessed properly, can be used wonderfully for groundwater recharge. The soil of Delhi is ideal for water absorption. The broad catchment area of the Yamuna can work wonders for the recharge of the underground water table. However, any construction on the Yamuna plain needs to be banned. Similarly, the Aravalli area can be managed a lot better for rainwater harvesting, but mining needs to be stopped. So it’s not just one thing or another that can increase Delhi’s water table, but an overall comprehensive approach.

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DM felicitates top CBSE performers of Noida

The District Magistrate of Gautam Buddha Nagar, BN Singh, on May 30 felicitated the students who have brought glory to the city with their excellent performance in this year's CBSE Class XII examination.
Singh felicitated the top five position holders and also motivated them. The students who were honoured are Raksha Gopal (498/500) and Asra Khan (492/500) from Amity International School; Johanna Ravindram (492/500) from Somerville School; and Faraj Rehman Malik (491/500) and Riya Bhatia (491/500) from Delhi Public School.
The DM also gifted a sapling to each of the students. City Spidey brings you few pictures from the event:

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27/247. That's what Noida Authority's grievance redressal cell scores

The much-talked-about Public Grievance Redressal Cell set up by Noida Authority has managed to address only a few complaints since its inception on May 3. Of the 247 complaints received, the cell has managed to address only 27. The rest 220 await resolution. 

All the complaints were filed over a period of 27 days, from May 3 to May 30. While Noida Authority received most complaints via its official email ID, five complaints were received through post. 
Of the 140 complaints on builder-buyer issues, not even one has been resolved till date. Saumya Srivastava, deputy CEO of Noida Authority, told City Spidey, "I have issued orders to officials to look into all these pending complaints, chalk out a detailed plan and resolve all complaints within a week."

He also said that officials of the group housing department were preparing a report based on the meetings between officials, builders and homebuyers, and that it would be sent to the chief minister's office.

Residents can submit their complaints at the redressal cell from 9.30 am to 6 pm on all working days. Written complaints can be submitted at the reception of the Authority’s office. Complaints can also be sent via email at grievanceredressal@noidaauthorityonline.com. All complaints are allotted a unique number to help senior officials of the Authority track the complaint and check its progress.

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Tuesday, 30 May 2017

See how the MCG is preparing to keep the monsoons waterlogging-free

The deputy commissioner of Gurgaon has directed the executive engineer of Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) to get rainwater harvesting pits cleaned with the support of the city's RWAs. They have also been instructed to submit a report on the work at the earliest.

DS Dhesi, Haryana chief secretary, held a meeting with MCG officials last week and directed them to finish monsoon preparations well in advance to avoid any waterlogging.
MCG officials said they had already started preparing for the monsoons and had held awareness programmes at DLF Phase IV, South City I, South City II, sectors 7, 10A, 21 and 22, with the NGO Gurgaon Action Plan (GAP).
“MCG XENs, or executive engineers, are identifying potential rainwater harvesting pits and making them functional before the arrival of the monsoons," said SS Rohilla, spokesperson of MCG. "Recycling not only ensures water during emergencies but also makes sure residents do not depend on only the groundwater table, which is anyway fast declining.” 
Last year in the monsoons, the city faced a terrible waterlogging crisis, forcing residents to be stuck in traffic jams for almost three to four hours. State and MCG officials have been working on deadlines and issuing multiple directions to ensure there is no repeat of last year's fiasco.
V Umashankar, MCG commissioner, has also given National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) a June 15 deadline to complete all drainage-related projects on the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway.
Two months back, Dhesi had directed MCG officials to assess the city's readiness for the monsoons and work out if they needed any assistance from the government for finances and manpower.
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These parents were so desperate that they had to stage a protest at DND today

United Parents Forum, a group of parents with wards studying in private schools of Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurgaon, took to the streets this morning to protest against the tyranny of private schools. This is the first day of its protest, which it plans to hold every week on the Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) flyway.  

Parents gathered near the DND toll plaza around 7 am and staged a protest against the arbitrary fee hike for the next three hours. 
Sandeep Singh, a parent who took part in the protest, told City Spidey that they had been struggling to get their voices heard by the government. He said despite approaching top officials of the district and following up with them, there had been no improvement on the situation. He alleged that schools had not rolled back their decision to hike fees.  
Singh said, "We don't want commuters to face problems because of our protest. This is just a desperate attempt to get our voices heard.''
Ritesh Kumar, another parent, said, "We want the government to know that parents will continue to fight until their voices are heard. We will carry out this protest every Monday." 
The group demanded that private schools adhere to the government order saying they should not be making profits. They said the government should conduct independent audits of all private schools. Another demand was to implement private school fee regulations. 
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The silvers had to walk almost 1 km to reach the Gaur Green City gate, until

The AOA of Gaur Green City, a residential society in Indirapuram, has introduced a free e-rickshaw service to help senior citizens and new mothers commute inside the premises. The idea was proposed by AOA members Saurabh Roy and VK Bhatnagar, and was later taken forward by the AOA.

Speaking to City Spidey, Jigyasu Pant, former general secretary of the AOA, said most senior citizens had to travel almost a kilometre inside the society to reach the gate. The service was started to help them cover the distance from the gate to their blocks without any hassle, he added.
Those who wanted a ride from their blocks to the gate could also call the society's maintenance office and request for an e-rickshaw to pick them up. 

One of the e-rickshaw drivers is a former employee of the society's maintenance office. When there are no service requests, he works as an office bearer.
Saurabh Roy, one of the AOA members behind the idea, is also a senior citizen. "We often need to visit doctors within the society or may even want to go to the market adjacent to the society," said Roy. “Those living in blocks closer to Shipra Mall, such as Block K, have a hard time reaching the society’s market at Kala Patthar road. Some of the older female residents also face problems reaching the temple during puja hours. The e-rickshaws have solved our problems.” 
“We bought the e-rickshaws with money from the society’s welfare fund, which is different from the RWA fund and is collected from various advertising money and sponsorships received by the society,” added Roy. 
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Sec 7, Dwarka: Morning walkers on a mission

The morning walkers club of Sector 7, Dwarka, is on a mission to make its walking lane clean and green. The lane is situated behind Rashi Apartments, Sri Niketan Apartments, Harsukh Apartments, Brahma Apartments and Satisar Apartments.

They recently placed wooden baskets as dustbins at different places on the lane. LD Garg, president of the club and a resident of Rashi Apartments, says that they wanted to maintain cleanliness and greenery in the area.
Ravi Jaitely, another member of the club who is the general secretary of Senior Citizens Association and a resident of Harsuk Apartments, says that they placed the bin to discourage the use of plastic in the area.
“We want to give the message through a change in our attitude and behaviour. Here we are trying to show that if we can implement such measures for our walking lane, then others can also adopt similar measures and join hands for the environment. We want to promote environment-friendly items for a green and clean Dwarka,” says Jaitely.
The club began its journey last year when morning walkers of the area found themselves in agreement over the need to keep the area clean and green. That is when they joined hands and formed the group. They cleaned the area and put a signage with the phone numbers of a few members and an appeal to promote cleanliness and greenery in the lane.
Jaitely says, “Since then we have been looking after the area where we walk every day. Our efforts have also inspired others.”
The environment enthusiasts of the area, some of whom are members of the club, recently did an experiment in which they made tree guards by using waste material to promote waste management and the need to care for nature. They used tyres, dry leaves, dry branches and horticultural waste to make these guards for the plants in neighbourhood parks.
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Raksha Gopal is not just an ace scholar!

Securing the first position in the Std XII board examination is no mean feat. Mention the word topper, and it brings to your mind the stereotypical persona of a scholar. However, this year’s CBSE topper Raksha Gopal has shattered the stereotype.

Not only a good student but she’s also a fine artist. She plays the keyboards, sings songs and is an ardent reader. And interestingly, her hobbies did not take a back seat even during her exams.
She took to singing and playing the keyboards when she was five years old, and had joined training classes then. “My mother pushed me into the world of music. My sister and father are superb singers and musicians,” says Raksha.
 Speaking to City Spidey, Raksha shared her love for movies, with Shah Rukh Khan being her favourite actor. She says, “I’ve watched Kal Ho Na Ho a number of times. I’ve watched it even during examinations. King Khan is the cutest guy in Bollywood and I have watched all his movies.”
Her pillars of support are Rajini, her mother, and Prerna, her elder sister. She considers them as her closest friends and says, “They’ve stood by my side at all times.”
“She understands her responsibility well. During her exams, I used to take her out to reduce the pressure of studies,” says her proud mother.
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Noida: ‘Jaypee Wish Town, Aman construction to begin in two months’

The construction work of Jaypee Wish Town, a residential project in Sector 134, and Aman, a residential project in Sector 151, is likely to begin within two months.

At a tri-party meeting between the builder, homebuyers and Noida Authority officials held in Indira Gandhi Kala Kendra in Sector 6, Noida, Sameer Gaur, director of Jaypee Infratech, said that he has Rs 600 crore to begin the construction work and it would begin within two months.
“Tower-wise completion report of some towers has already been submitted to the Authority and the rest of the report will be submitted by May 31,” he added.
Shishir Singh, ACEO of Noida Authority, said that he has given five days to the developer to submit all the tower-wise completion reports. "I also asked the builder to open an escrow account of the project," he added.
The meeting was held as part of the chain of meetings held between the stakeholders and was chaired by Singh.
Pramod Singh, a buyer, told City Spidey that when the buyers reached the venue, none of the higher officials of the developer were present. “Buyers told the Authority officials that they were going to boycott the meeting and also approach the UP CM’s office. Noida Authority then called Gaur. He reached the venue after an hour of the scheduled time of meeting,” he said.
Buyers complain that they booked their flats in 2008 and the builder was supposed to deliver them in 2011-12. “We have given about 80 to 90 per cent of the flat’s cost, and are still living on rented accommodations and paying EMIs,” Pramod Singh said.
Buyers say that some of them want to exit the project and want their money back with the interest whereas others want their flat as soon as possible.
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The real reason why Shahdara and Noida open drains continue to emit toxic gases

The contaminated water flowing through both Shahdara and Noida irrigation open drains have been emanating foul-smelling toxic gases for over a decade. The gases are a health hazard to more than 2 lakh people living in the vicinity.

The only step the government has taken in the past 10 years is setting up Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) to treat the water flowing through them.
And what do these STPs do?
Simply put, they treat the dirty water flowing through these drains and — wait for it — release the treated water back into the sludge-filled drains!
What is the point of spending a fortune and installing a system that does not help?
The process of mixing treated water with effluent (read: contaminated water) is a clear violation of a Supreme Court directive. On February 7, 2007, the Supreme Court in its order had instructed Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to “ensure that the treated effluent is not mixed with untreated waste before it flows into Yamuna.”
When City Spidey discussed the matter with DJB, VK Gupta, chief engineer, claimed that most of the treated water was being utilised for industrial purposes. The STP operator at Chilla village made a similar claim. He said, “We are not releasing the treated water back into the Shahdara drain. The treated water is being sent out for irrigation purposes using a separate pipeline.”
But one peek behind the STP and the reality is clear: The STP is treating the water from up-stream and releasing the treated water back into the same drain down-stream. There is hardly a 300-m difference between the up-stream and down-stream of this particular drain.
Officials in government authorities, on the condition of anonymity, said that as the Yamuna was already dirty; releasing the treated water into it would not serve the purpose. “First we have to clean the Yamuna and then release the treated water there,” said a senior official, requesting not to be named.
Dr Bhure Lal, the chairman of Environment Pollution Protection and Control Authority (EPPCA) for the NCR, stressed on recycling and re-using the treated water. “The government agencies should have a mechanism to ensure maximum utilisation of the treated water. They can use the treated water to recharge groundwater, for irrigation, to water the green areas in the city, there are several feasible options. If they do not have any use of the treated water, the STPs are of no use. It is just waste of money and eyewash,” concluded Dr Lal.
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Who needs a park when you have a 2,000-sqm garden?

While most societies these days have parks, the Beverly Park II, one of the oldest condominiums in Gurgaon, has maintained the age-old tradition of having a garden within its premises.
And Centre Court — that's what the 2,000-sqm garden is called — has won the Best Garden Award at the HUDA Flower Show earlier this year.  

Centre Court has an impressive ensemble of African palms and a water fountain surrounded by Bismarckia on its four corners. Beverly Park II has groups of residents managing various sections within the society. Anita Kapur and Devinder Kaur are the ones who take care of the garden.  
Speaking to City Spidey, Kapur, who is also the RWA's vice-president, said, "We are blessed to have such a huge area in the middle of the society. Without that, we would never have been able to develop the Centre Court. The RWA spends about a lakh on it every year to maintain this spectacle."
The condominium has a team of eight gardeners and a supervisor to look after the plants and keep the lawns well manicured. The garden has a majestic display of Portulaca, also known as the sun rose, Vinca and sunflower.
In winter, the focus shifts to flowers such as daffodils, tulips, petunias, pansies, marigold and Salvia divinorum (also known as seer's sage).
"The Centre Court is exceptional," said Rahul Sood, a software engineer by profession. "It's a lovely sight to wake up to, with all these flowers in full bloom."
Since it's a garden and not a park, there are no benches, jogging tracks or swings. One can enjoy a walk through the garden, though — there's a stone track for residents to walk on without damaging the lawns. 

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Breezed through Rajiv Chowk and Hero Honda Chowk yesterday? Here's why

Municipal Corporation of Gurugram’s (MCG) enforcement team removed all encroachments from Hero Honda Chowk and Rajiv Chowk on Monday. With the two major congestion points freed, commuters enjoyed a traffic-free ride through the stretch last evening. 
Both the busy junctions were made free of hawkers and kiosks encroaching upon the roads and the footpaths — which included tea stalls, coconut-water stalls, juice stalls and paan shops.
"I travel to Manesar every day, and passing through both Hero Honda Chowk and Rajeev Chowk had become a nightmare," said Shalini Baweja, a resident of Sector 15. "It takes about 30 to 40 minutes to cross these junctions. Since both of them are on NH 8, it is imperative to prevent traffic congestion here. While driving home last night, I was surprised to see the stretches free of encroachments. The traffic was moving smoothly, It was such a relief! But I hope it stays this way."

Sudhir Chauhan, senior town planner, MCG, said, “We have formed four teams for different zones within the city. The teams will not only remove encroachments but also ensure they do not come up again. We will not allow such encroachments to return. We will keep a regular check on the areas."
Officials further claimed that if the encroachments returned, violators would be penalised and their belongings confiscated.
Rakshit Pruthi, a resident of Essel Towers who travels to Bawal Industrial Area for work, said, “The encroachments worsen the traffic situation at Hero Honda Chowk and Rajeev Chowk, which are already bad due to the construction of a flyover. This is something serious and needs to be checked from time to time.”
Both Hero Honda Chowk and Rajiv Chowk are busy junctions, as the arterial roads in the city meet NH 8 at these points. Moreover, the construction of an underpass at Rajiv Chowk and a flyover around Hero Honda Chowk have made life miserable for commuters.
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Ghaziabad: Time to trim the trees

Ghaziabad's electricity department has decided to prune the city's overgrown trees to prevent the tripping of power lines.

With strong winds blowing across the city over the past few days, the number of power cuts owing to branches falling on the power lines has gone up.
The trees that lie right below or near the electricity lines have become a major problem during and after the rains. The branches that touch the cables often conduct and draw electricity, causing short circuits and tripping. In some instances, strong gusts have caused branches to break and fall on the cables, disrupting power supply.

Speaking to City Spidey, MC Sharma, superintending engineer of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL), said the decision had been taken as a preventive measure against the frequent tripping of power lines. “The sub-divisional officers, or the SDOs, of different areas will carry this out routinely,” added Sharma. 
The locations where the trees are touching the lines will be identified and pruned first.
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Monday, 29 May 2017

Noida parks to have smart irrigation systems

Noida Authority is all set to introduce spring irrigation system to the city's major parks. The system, which will be installed in 10 to 12 parks in the city, saves water from the wastage.  

The move came after the state ground water resource agency passed an order to the department of horticulture, asking it to opt for an efficient watering system to save the dropping ground water levels, which is reducing by a whopping metre every passing year.  
According to a study by Central Ground Water Board, the water level in Sector 62A was recorded as 21.15 mbgl (metres below ground level) in August 2012. It fell to 23.62 mbgl in August 2013. In Sector 72, it was 19.31 mbgl in 2012, which, within a year, fell to 21.42 mbgl. In Sector 92, it was 9.46 mbgl in 2012 and fell to 9.86 mbgl in 2013.

Mahendra Prakash, deputy director with the department of horticulture, said they had received the order and were in the process of preparing an estimate for its implementation. Initially, the system will be implemented in the big parks.  He said the estimate will be sent for approval shortly. 

He explained that under the spring irrigation system, the department will set up several rain guns (long range sprinklers) to water the lawns and the plants. "The system does not allow wastage as it covers a vast areas," said Prakash.
He said that it will take them about two more months to begin setting up the system. One of the parks being considered is the Meghdutam park in Sector 50.
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