Feedback can add to Gurgaon's rank in the Swachh Bharat Survey

The MCG (Municipal Corporation of Gurugram) has recently concluded a training for its sanitation department. The training included several parameters that are integral in terms of improving the hygiene levels of the city.

The sanitation department was also trained to educate residents about the importance of lending feedback (on its cleanliness drives/initiatives) through the Swachh Bharat app, the Swachh Bharat website or through the telephonic survey conducted by the Ministry of Urban Development.

Of the total 4000 points covered during the training module, 1400 points revolved around feedback alone. In 2016, when feedback had not been actively encouraged in the interactive sessions between sanitation workers and residents, Gurgaon had ranked 36th (out of 73 cities) as far as the Swachh Bharat Survey is concerned. However, the score improved in 2017 with an emphasis on feedback. In 2017 the city ranked 112th out of 434 cities. Gurgaon News

By encouraging feedback, the sanitation department is also urging residents to increase their participation. “We want Gurgaon to be ranked high in terms of civic hygiene and this can happen only if the residents engage actively in the initiatives. Our workers are reiterating the importance of feedback and hence this year the scores should further improve,” said SS Rohilla, public relations officer, MCG.

In the course of the feedback garnered last year, 11% of the residents said that the city is always clean, 13% said they are able to find dustbins easily and 31% said that there is daily door-to-door collection of waste. Moreover, 13% residents felt that public toilets are spaced within distances of 500 metres while 9% felt that there is basic infrastructure available at public and community toilets.

The Swachh Bharat Survey this year will cover as many as 4041 cities and will reach Gurgaon in February.

With the attack on Raheja Mall, Gurgaon residents are reeling under shock

On Monday evening, a group of masked men barged into Raheja Mall (situated on Sohna Road) and started vandalizing the mall’s property outside the cinema hall. They also damaged a few shops and told the hapless shopkeepers that they will not allow the release of Padmaavat.

The incident occurred in the late evening hours when the mall was buzzing with people. The security company quickly called the police who arrived with extra staff and took charge of the mall. Subsequently, perceiving the danger to other cinema halls and malls, police forces were stationed across the malls and movie halls of the city.

Needless to say the people who were in the mall at the time of the incident were shocked and stirred. “I was with my wife and baby when the masked men suddenly appeared and started attacking the mall. I ushered my family into an electronic shop and started praying that the assailants stay away from this shop. I witnessed terror very closely” said Naveen Saini, a resident of South City I.

Mahendra Pandey who sells paan outside the mall said, “These goons entered with rods and damaged the property inside. And while leaving the premises they threatened me and even broke my shop and fridge.”

An employee of a leading shoe brand spoke to City Spidey on the condition of anonymity. In his words, “The security guards were helpless and could not stop them from destroying property. The police came much later.” Gurgaon News

People across Sohna Road are in a state of shock.  “It was a Monday so we were not at the mall. It is a regular joint on weekends for my family. I take my children aged six and eight to the children’s entertainment section. I shudder to think what if the assailants had struck on a weekend. I am not visiting any mall till this issue dies down” said Poonam Choudhary, a resident of Uppals Southend.

While the police is investigating the case, footfalls across malls in the city are bound to suffer in the coming days.

The authorities are turning Noida into a dumpyard…allege residents

Recently hundreds of residents from Noida Sector 22 and 23 along with villagers of Choda Gaon (in the vicinity of Khanpur) had staged a protest against Noida Authority for dumping the city’s waste in a vacant plot of Sector 54.

“The adjoining areas are densely populated. This callous action of the Authority will adversely affect people, animals and birds alike,” claimed protesters.

Noida news

Speaking to City Spidey today, K Arunachalam, RWA member of Sector 22 said that he along with his colleagues had stopped around 20 trucks from dumping garbage at this site. “We have also written a letter to the Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath to intervene in this matter,” he added.

With the growing mounds of garbage, this vacant plot is beginning to resemble the Ghazipur landfill site. “Needless to say there will soon be a slew of health repercussions. We shall not allow the Authority to transform this plot into a landfill site,” Arunachalam added.

Infact residents of neighbouring sectors have started experiencing some adverse effects. In the words of Ramesh Shekhar, a city resident, “The stench has already reached the homes of people. Most houses cannot do without room freshners. People are also suffering from skin diseases.”

Protesters have informed City Spidey that the authority officials are fairly insensitive on their stand. “They are legally justifying their action on the ground that all land belongs to Noida Authority,” shared a protestor.

Did you attend this unique car rally in Gurgaon today?

On a sunny winter morning, 35 cars participated in a unique rally, in which the visually impaired acted as navigators for drivers, and the deaf and mute as the traffic marshals. The navigators in each car guided the drivers on the best routes to complete the rally, taking them through landmarks with the help of a Braille map. The aim of the rally, named Gurgaon On Saturday, was twofold — awareness of traffic rules and interaction with the differently abled.

The 48-km rally went through Faridabad road, Mangar village, Sirohi, Dumduma, Badshahpur and Gurgaon. The traffic marshals were assisted at every step by volunteers of Uthaan, an NGO based in Gurgaon.

Gurgaon news

Speaking to City Spidey, Ajit Kumar, a 12-year-old navigator, said, “It was a great experience to guide the driver. I got to learn so many new short forms such as NH [National Highway].” An enthusiastic athlete, Kumar wants to be a cricketer when he grows up.

Dimple Chopra, the driver being guided by Kumar, said, “It was a beautiful experience, as he shared details of his life with me as well. He spoke of his interest in sports and how he was fond of radio jockeys. His clarity of thought impressed me.”

Sharing his experience, Sanjay Kaushik, founder of Uthaan, said, "The rally turned out to be a success. We wanted people to interact with these kids and learn from them the spirit of life. Further, awareness of traffic rules was also an aim, which was well achieved."

Not easy to get names updated in voters' list, complain Gzb residents

While the district administration of Ghaziabad has made elaborate plans to enrol new voters, to make corrections and spread awareness during the upcoming National Voters Day on January 25, citizens complain that the procedure for updating voters' list is flawed. A common complaint is that despite filling up forms and submitting details several times, they have failed to get their names updated in the voters' list.

Apart from the local voter ID camps, the Ghaziabad District Administration (GDA) is all prepped to celebrate National Voters Day. Officials say camps are being organised at the local booth levels in coordination with local booth level officers. Ghaziabad News

Gyanendra Singh, ADM Administration, told City Spidey that the heads of all departments in the city administration have been asked to take part, while schools and colleges have been asked play their part in educating and spreading awareness about votes and voters.

Singh maintained that the drive was especially aimed at first-time voters and the ones who recently turned 18, the legal age for exercising the right to vote. “A programme in this regard is also being organised at the Hindi Bhawan on January 25, where social organisations, NGOs, officials and residents of the city will take part,” Singh further said.

Meanwhile, Atin Singhal, a young resident of ATS Advantage in Indirapuram, made his third attempt to get his name included in the voters' list at the recent voter’s ID camp in Indirapuram.

Singhal made his first attempt when he was 19 years old during the Assembly elections in 2017. However, his excitement about voting for the first time was doused, as his name could not be updated and he could not vote.

He made his second attempt in June 2017 during a special drive for new voters conducted by the district administration. The second attempt, too, failed, as his name was not updated. Despite filling forms both online and on paper, his name was not included in the voters' list. “We have submitted the documents on multiple occasions both online and at the voter camps, but the names have not been updated,” said Ajay Singhal, Atin’s father.

DK Pali, president of the East Avenue Apartments RWA, told City Spidey that the booth level officer of his area had never visited his society in the last eight years. “The district administration seems to make efforts for voter inclusion, but not achieve much. There are only a handful of registered voters in our society, which has more than a hundred households,” Pali said.

Gaurav Daga, another resident of ATS Advantage, told City Spidey that the names of none of the six adult members of his family have been updated. “We also have been trying to get it done online, but to no avail. There are several other problems. Apart from not updating voters, there is also the gap between the municipal voters' list and the general voters' list. I have been raising these issues with the authorities via tweets for quite some time now,” he said.

Residents of East Delhi housing societies condemn property tax on common areas

Residents of Cooperative Group Housing Societies in East Delhi are shocked at the East Delhi Municipal Corporation's move to charge property tax from societies even for the common areas.

And the latest notice from the corporation wants all societies to cough up arrears in the tax thus calculated from the year 2004-05, citing different sections of the DMC Act for its demand.

Residents are shocked, as the notice wants them to pay property tax on the society office, common space, recreation hall, basement, reception, guard room and other common areas.

“Your attention is invited that you were required to submit your property tax return in respect of vacant land, super covered area of the building being in the capacity of owner/occupier of the aforesaid property,” EDMC’s notice issued to societies read.

More shockingly, residents have been asked to pay this tax from 2004-05 till the current year.

“It appears that you have probably failed to furnish the return of property tax without reasonable cause, which you were required to furnish under the 123A/ 123B of the DMC Act,” the notice said.

At a meeting held on Sunday at Nirman Apartments in Mayur Vihar Phase I Extension, members of 22 group housing societies of the neighbourhood condemned the act and described it as arbitrary and unjust.

Sanjeev Jayaswal, president of Nirman Apartments, said, "It is a serious issue and we must all unite to fight it. EMDC has sent this notice without knowing the actual financial condition of the cooperative group housing societies in East Delhi. When most of the societies are facing a tough time maintaining societies due to financial crises, levying more taxes is unjust.”

The members pointed out that the guard rooms were constructed to provide some comfort to the security guards. Private security guards were necessary, as the government had failed to provide security to citizens, the members noted. Delhi breaking news

JP Sharma, general secretary of Vansundhara Enclave CGHS Federation, said the government should provide financial help to housing societies, not levy more taxes. “In Delhi villages, the government provides funds for Chaupal [public spaces]. The government constructs community centres in villages, and here in societies it is levying taxes on common areas!” Sharma said.

EMDC had made a similar attempt four years ago of levying property tax on vacant common land. “Residents of housing societies pay 100 per cent property tax, despite the fact that we are not receiving any facilities from the government for free. But the government does not dare collect taxes from those who avail facilities from different government agencies,” Sharma added.

Some members said that the issue ought to be fought legally. Purusottam Bhatt, president of United India Apartments, said, “DMC Act-123 A and 123 B are applicable to shops and commercial establishments. Common areas, or other facilities in the societies, are being used by residents and are not commercial units.”

Vipin Bihari, standing committee chairman (EDMC), said, “This proposal is not presented before the standing committee. I assure you that I will raise this issue in the next standing committee meeting.”

Two security guards of Ajnara Homes arrested for beating up protesting residents

Bisrakh police has arrested two security guards of Ajnara Homes, a residential society in Noida Extension, earlier today, as they allegedly beat up residents who were holding a peaceful protest in the society against the builder’s non-delivery of basic facilities. Residents allege they were beaten up by bouncers hired by the builder and three of the society’s security guards.

The two security guards arrested have been identified as Sudhir Chaudhary and Ravinder Kumar.

According to residents, they are peacefully protesting on the premises, when a few bouncers and three security guards emerged, and told them to stop the demonstration. When they refused, they allege the bouncers roughed them up and even used coarse language.

Residents then took the matter to the Bisrakh police, lodging an FIR against the three guards and the unidentified men.

Gaurav Gupta, a resident of Ajnara Homes, told City Spidey that the builder had faltered on providing basic facilities, such as proper security and CCTV cameras.

"Even the firefighting system is not operational, let alone the swimming pool and the club. On top of this, the builder has already taken two years’ advanced maintenance charge from us residents at is Rs 7 per sq ft,” he added.

Residents also said that the builder had not given them completion or occupancy certificates, due to which they had not been able to register their flats. There are more than 150 families living in the society at present.

Ajay Sharma, SO of Bisrakh police station, said that investigation into the case was under way.

Delhi Government rejects user fees proposed by MCD

The Delhi Government has raised objections on the MCD’s proposal of levying user charges under the Solid Waste Management (SWM) rules that were revised in 2016.

About two months ago the Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) along with a set of environment experts had framed a draft of bye laws on Solid Waste Management (SWM) proposing user charges on individual households. The proposal was then sent to the state government for approval. City Spidey had reported this development on November 23. Delhi news

The Delhi Government has now returned the proposal saying it would translate to an additional financial burden on the residents of the city. Speaking to City Spidey, Satyendra Kumar Jain, Delhi Urban Development Minister, said, “Collection of garbage comes under the obligatory functions of Delhi Municipal Corporation.” 

The government, however has agreed to allow the imposition of user charges on the commercial and industrial units of the city.

The draft suggesting user charges was framed jointly by local authorities and a court appointed panel of environmental experts. According to sources it was the environment expert panel that had actually proposed the user charges.

As per the draft proposal, buildings with floor areas upto 50 square meters (within residential areas) shall be charged Rs 50 per month by way of municipal user fee. Depending on square feet area of buildings, different charges have been proposed.

The draft committee had also proposed different charges on commercial establishments, eating places, hotels, restaurants etc subject to their capacity. These range from Rs 500 to Rs 5000.

Dwarka Sector 3 senior citizens request DDA to build them a shelter in locality

Senior citizens of Dwarka Sector 3 want the Delhi Development Authority to construct a shelter in the locality park that can save them from heat and cold. At present, there are five benches that are unable to accommodate all the elderly persons who frequent the park for their daily get-togethers.

The oldest member of the senior citizens' group is 92, and he gets a place to sit. But many “younger” members have to stand, as the space is limited. Delhi news

Now, these aged men, numbering over 50, are regulars at the park, where children also play cricket. Which is why the senior citizens want the construction of a shelter with more benches under it, so they can hold their daily meetings more comfortably.

Now the group has prepared a petition for the DDA, seeking the construction of a shelter, with a mesh surrounding it to protect them from cricket ball that can hurt them.

The petition has already been signed by 41 members, all residents of high-rise residential complexes in the locality.

At 92, BB Rajput is the senior-most member of the group. A resident of Heritage Tower Apartments, Rajput said the shelter they seek should be open from all sides but covered with a mesh, so cricket balls don't hit them.

“It would be ideal if the shelter was of a size 7x6.2 m, with a raised cement flooring, eight benches and one centre table,” Rajput said, adding that "we have made a rough design for DDA to consider".

DDA can easily fulfil our requirement, as similar shelters as there are similar shelters in the parks of sectors 6, 9 and 12.

MP Sharma, of Balaji Apartments, and a regular at the Sector 3 park, said, “This park is surrounded by many sicieties, such as Balaji Apartments, National Apartments, Astha Kunj Apartments, Heritage Tower Apartments and Welcome Apartments, and is regularly used by many residents. You can see how crowded this park is in the evenings. We are senior citizens and we cannot sit on the ground. We use these benches. But these are not ideal for us,” Sharma said.

A senior DDA official promised to look into the matter and do the needful when City Spidey sought his comments on the senior citizens' petition.

Visitors to Noida district hospital may need passes from Feb

To better manage the crowd at Noida district hospital, the hospital’s management is planning to implement passes for visitors. If things go as planned, the process may be implemented from next month.

If implemented, only one or two people accompanying the patient will be allowed to enter the hospital. While some visitors say the decision is indeed required, others maintain that relatives visiting from far away places should be allowed to stay with the patient.

Currently, there is no restriction on the number of people accompanying patients in the district hospital. The large crowd of visitors not only causes problems for the staff, but also for the patients. And hence, the hospital management is mulling the implementation of a visitor-pass system.

More than one or two family members, or visitors, will not be able to stay near the patient at any given point. Passes will also be required if one is just visiting the patient. Noida News

Chief medical superintendent, Dr Ajay Agarwal, said, “The way it is right now, several family members stay back with a single patient. This causes a lot of problems, for patients and hospital staff alike. And hence, we are thinking of the visitor-pass system from February 1. This will keep a check on the huge crowds accompanying patients.”

Satpal Singh, who came to the hospital for treatment, supported the hospital’s decision and admitted that one caretaker was usually enough for a single patient. But Sarita Devi, who was at the hospital to take care of her mother, Murti Devi, felt otherwise. She explained those travelling from far away to visit patients should be allowed to stay.

Gurgaon Police decides to relaunch Operation Durga

In the wake of the recent gangrape of a college student in a moving car and the abduction of a 12-year-old girl, Gurgaon Police has relaunched Operation Durga, a public-safety vigilance campaign through which police constables keep a vigil on public areas to ensure women’s safety.

Operation Durga will be implemented in three districts to check the rise in cases of sexual harassment, rape, molestation and other criminal offences against women in public spaces, particularly in bus stands, railway stations, colleges and other institutions. Gurgaon news
 
In a meeting with senior officials, Police Commissioner Sandeep Khirwar, IPS, has discussed a slew of measures to curb the rising instances of crime.
 
According to Khirwar, once a criminal case is registered by a woman against someone, the police officials will display zero tolerance to the offender. As a first step, the police will document the different kinds of complaints that are registered, along with their respective areas.
 
“This has been done so we can deploy adequate forces in crime-prone areas,” said Khirwar.
 
Within a year, Gurgaon Police is aiming to establish new police stations in Dwarka Expressway, the Southern Peripheral Road and the new sectors of Gurgaon. 

A vintage car rally from Delhi to Gurgaon... You cannot miss this!

In a bid to promote "motoring tourism" and give collectors an opportunity to drive out their vintage collection, 21 Gun Salute Heritage and Cultural Trust will hold a vintage car rally on February 17 and 18 in Delhi. The rally will be flagged off from Lal Qila and end at the Ambience Island in DLF Phase III, Gurgaon.

More than 100 vintage cars will participate in the rally and celebrities from the global motoring fraternity and titans of the automotive industry will grace the occasion. Thousands of private collectors and connoisseurs, national and international, will be present at the venue.

Addressing a press conference, Madan Mohan, founder and managing trustee, 21 Gun Salute Heritage and Cultural Trust, said, “The 8th edition will present rare and legendary 1939 Delage D8 120- USA, 1922 Bentley – Australia; 1908 Rolls Royce Silver Dawn & 1965 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud – UK; RR Phantom James Young Edition – Singapore; 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS ZagatoAprile – Italy; along with other fine handpicked vintage cars such as the 1933 Cadillac V-12, the rare 1930 Cadillac V-16 [the only one in India], the 1922 Moon, the 1949 Buick Roadmaster and the 1942 Packard 180 Limo" Gurgaon news

Why isn't anyone doing anything about the encroachment in Dwarka markets?

Encroachment in the market areas of Dwarka has become a hot discussion topic these days. Resident groups, RWAs and social organisations are all raising the subject on their various WhatsApp groups in a bid to get the attention of civic bodies and public representatives. 

Anil Kumar Parashar, a resident of Sri Agrasen Apartments in Sector 7, has been writing about the issue regularly on social media. Speaking to City Spidey, he said, “I had drawn the attention of the authorities towards a chaat vendor whose stall had been obstructing traffic and blocking a pavement in Sector 7. At our insistence, the municipal authorities forced him to evacuate his business site. However, after a few days he was back at the same spot. Sector 10 markets are also filled with encroachments. Even pictures of these encroachments have been posted to the authorities, but no action has been taken.”

Residents are alleging that there is a lack of political will preventing authorities from taking a tough stand on encroachments. “Every political party blames the other. The situation is worsening every day and merits serious attention,” said Parashar. Dwarka news

The situation is not different in the market areas of sectors 4, 10 and 12.

People are alleging that all encroachments are happening in the knowledge of civic authorities and representatives of political parties. SN Singh, a resident of Sector 4, said, “The entire corridor of the Sector 4 market has been captured by vendors. These vendors, who have set up their wares in front of shops, are either bribing the shops or the administration or soliciting the support of the powerful people in the area.”

Visitors to the markets are tired of negotiating their way through these encroached corridors. They are demanding a proper policy that can govern these shops. 

Nidhi Gupta, a resident of Sector 10, said, “Encroachment in the markets is mainly being done by shopowners who put big standees for advertising, or even refrigeration units. A shop of export items and another of worship accessories and idols are a case in point in Sector 10. The encroachment in front of the latter expands during festivals.”

The encroachments in the Sector 6 market were removed earlier, following High Court orders. Residents of the sub-city are hence questioning why this order has not been enforced in other markets as well.