Its a mockery of the entire process. What kind of inspection is completed in five minutes, says Rejimon CK, the Dwarka resident who filed the RTI. The answers are a real eye-opener.

The transport department says the vehicle inspection unit is equipped with an automated I&C lane (for inspection ) but it has not been working for a few months. In the autorickshaw and taxi unit, the inspection has always been carried out manually. It adds that both the VIU and ARU take only five to eight minutes to check a vehicle, depending on the category. While passenger vehicles take five to eight minutes, goods vehicles take four to five minutes, adds the RTI.

VIU and ARU inspect commercial vehicles registered in Delhi, including trucks, Gramin Sewas, autorickshaws and mini vans. The annual fitness certificate is mandatory for all commercial vehicles. Without it, vehicles are not allowed to ply on roads. Said a senior transport official, Since commercial vehicles cover long distances and experience a lot of wear and tear, they need to be inspected to prevent breakdowns. There are over 72 lakh vehicles registered in Delhi, of which more than 60% are commercial. And all are inspected at the vehicle inspection unit or the ARU, if its an autorickshaw or taxi.

That the five minutes spent on inspection are not optimum is evident from the number of commercial vehicles that break down on roads every day. According to the Delhi traffic police, around 15-20 vehicles break down every day, mostly the commercial ones. Predictably, this leads to obstructions on roads and traffic jams.

The RTI further says that apart from the 500 vehicles inspected every day, any vehicle which has paid the fitness test fee has to be cleared on the same day irrespective of the duty hours. According to the RTI,1,01,361 vehicles were passed in 2012,while only 10,654 vehicles failed the test.

Source: http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?pageid=4&pagesize&edid&edlabel=CAP&mydateHid=07-05-2013&pubname&edname&publabel=TOI

Mahendra Singh, ACP (Traffic) said that the Traffic Police has taken up the matter of constructing the Central Verge at on road level railway crossing at Palam. U. N. Gupta, DGM, BSES told that the company is putting the street light poles behind the traffic signals. He informed that the inceptors can only intercept the speed within the range of 1.5 kilometre. Participants grumbled on the fact that that the public are harassed for parking in colony markets and Societies while the Traffic Police conveniently ignore the parking by builders and institutions like Schools who park the buses on roads and footpaths. Many other traffic related problems were raised but other than advising the public, Police had no answer.

Sushil Kumar, President, DF suggested that Police should give some training to the guards posted in the Societies. Dwarka Forum said that the crime graph in Dwarka is again rising and demanded that the GPS data of the PCR vans should be shared with the public.

On the complaint of RWA’s , DCP assured that he will instruct his staff to accept the applications of tenant verification without insisting on the copies of old identity proof but by giving address of past residence. Ashok Kumar. President of IDC Society said that Police insist presence of the concerned persons for the delivery of letter for tenant verification. He said that at many spots, no parking sign boards have been put up and they should be displayed there before traffic police tow away vehicle. He informed that in his Society, 99% police verification is complete.

The representatives of Sukh Dukh Ke Sathi demanded painting of zebra crossings and made complaint of open drinking at the Sector 9 parking. Police informed that the work of painting of zebra crossing is the job of land owning agency. ACP Traffic informed that it was not their duty to remove banners and bushes in front of signal lights. Representative of Brahma Society made complaint about the encroachment on one of its gate.

The meeting was organized by Dwarka Forum on Saturday, 23rd March in which SHOs of four Police Stations and Mr. Arora, Executive Engineer (Elect) DDA along with other officials were also present and interacted with the representatives of various RWA/ CGHS/Market Association of Dwarka. After the meeting, residents enjoyed Holi.

Deptt. of Posts has invited tenders for space on rent for the starting the Head Post Office at Sector 6, Dwarka and a new Post Office at Sector 18. The plan to construct Post Office Building on the 300-mtr. plot allotted by the DDA at Sector 6 is under process. The Post Office at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Sector 16 will start shortly after completing some formalities required for the Post Office.

A proposal is also being sent for inclusion of Dwarka Post Office in the list of accepting RTI applications under CAPIO module. After this, the RTI applications, First and Second Appeals will be accepted at the Sector 6 Post Office free of charge. The information has been given to Dwarka Forum after 4 months follow-up its Jt. Secy. and Media Adviser M.K. Gupta.

Silent Features of the Tender
Deptt. of Posts has invited tenders for opening the new post office and for expanding the existing one at Sector 6, Dwarka. The required space is 300 sq. ft. in sector 18 and 8445 sq. ft. at sector 6 – both at ground floor. Tender for Sector 18 should reach by 14.30 hours on 15.3.2013 and will be opened on the same day at 15.30 hours. Tender for Sector 6 should reach by 19.3.2013 and will be opened at 15.30- hours on the same day.
It has been learned that the negotiation for renting space at MTNL building have failed as it has asked for an unreasonable rental.
For more information, please contact on phone number 25798341, 257988975 or 25799134 or visit “Pravar Adhishak Post Office, West Division, New Delhi – 110028”.

(From Dwarka City fortnightly March, 2013 (page 4) Online version at www.dwarka4u.com).

(Note-It has been learnt that the negotiation for space on rent at MTNL building have failed as postal authorities consider the rent asked as unreasonable).

l Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections are just a month away — that sanitation workers have begun sweeping the roads meticulously for hours. But Dwarka residents are not amused.

“These are just gimmicks to get our votes. Where were these sanitation workers in the last five years, when we had been trying to draw the councillors’ attention to the lack of sanitation in our area? We are not fools,” said Vijay Kumar, a resident of Brahma Apartments, sector 7. The apartment complexes in Dwarka, Asia’s biggest residential area, got occupants only in late 2005, when the Metro connected the area to the rest of Delhi. It is since then that the poor garbage collection and lack of sanitation has been irking residents. Citizen campaigns, petitions and meetings with the mayor have failed to bring about a change. Even now, when sanitation work is at its peak, it is not too hard to find mounds of garbage.

“MCD is in-charge of sanitation and roads in Dwarka, and councillors have failed us on both counts. While arterial roads in the sub-city are good, the situation turns out as soon as you enter the bylanes. Service lanes are especially bad,” said Pranav Varka, a retired central government employee who lives in sector 9. It is not just the garbage, however, that has made life tough for Dwarka residents. With most street lights defunct, going out of the house post sundown is problematic and unsafe.

“There are very few functional street lights in Dwarka. This is why street crime, especially instances of snatching, is very high. Some stretches have lamp posts but no lamps,” said Anand Krishanan, a resident of sector 10. According to residents, they have completely been ignored by councillors. “When it comes to voting we will not go by party affiliation, but merit. Whoever promises to resolve the problem of sanitation, law and order and water will get our vote,” said Rejimon CK, president, Dwarka Forum.

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Councillors-clean-up-act-fails-to-amuse-locals/Article1-827432.aspx

me out in large numbers to drive this point home. The joint front of Dwarka residents welfare associations – Dwarka Forum – has planned an extensive campaign to ensure 100% voter turnout in MCD polls in April.

‘Instead of Facebook, log onto EVM machine on April 15′, ‘It only takes an ink mark on finger to change the fate of your society’, ‘Remember overflowing garbage bins, dirty streets, burning leaves? Care about Dwarka, cast your vote’ are some of the slogans that will be part of the poster campaign encouraging the voters.

“Political parties have neglected our most genuine demands. In the latest census, Dwarka has been called the fastest growing residential hub. But still we get pathetic facilities from the government. We were promised 15MGD (million gallon daily) water but we get only 3.5MGD,” said Rejimon C K, president of the Dwarka Forum, which includes 300 CGHS societies and 55 RWAs of DDA flats.

Residents also complain about lack of other civic amenities like sanitation. “We can get things done only if we vote,” stresses Rejimon. So the Dwarka Forum is drawing up an agenda that will be circulated among the candidates. “The residents will decide the political, social, cultural, educational and health map of Dwarka. We are putting together a list of things we need in our area,” said Rejimon. In Dwarka, each society and RWA will be given the task to identify volunteers who will maintain a list of residents who voted on the polling day.

Like Dwarka, the RWAs in residential colonies in upscale areas of south Delhi are also trying to ensure 100% voter turnout. They are working on a campaign – Come out and vote – to encourage people to step out of their houses to cast their vote. In the MCD elections in 2007, less than 30% voters cast their votes in these areas. “People living in these colonies demand the maximum civic facilities but they don’t exercise their right to vote to elect the right corporator. We want people to vote,” said Rajiv Kakria, member of the GK-I RWA who has planned an event on March 25 at India Gate to launch the campaign, which will be followed by different awareness drives.

Never in the past, RWAs have taken such a keen interest in the municipal elections. The members are sharing ideas on emails and holding meetings to discuss possible options to implement the plan. “This time, it is going to be a mass movement. We will ensure that residents of plotted areas come out in large numbers. RWAs are also working on a pledge, which will be given to all candidates who come to seek our votes. They have to sign on the pledge, only then will we listen to their manifesto,” said Kakria.

Pankaj Aggarwal, general secretary said, the Delhi RWAs Joint Front, “We want good civic facilities as we pay so much tax. We are working on the concept of a model ward. Though the election commission is planning a voters’ awareness campaign, we, too, will start a similar one in our areas. This time the excitement in RWAs is encouraging. People are looking for a change.”

Source:

• http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/12322715.cms

Format

NEW DELHI: ‘No Water No Vote’ – this is the message the residents of Dwarka want to convey to the political parties. Deprived of basic civic amenities for years, residents of the fastest growing residential hub in the capital have decided to come out in large numbers to drive this point home. The joint front of Dwarka residents welfare associations – Dwarka Forum – has planned an extensive campaign to ensure 100% voter turnout in MCD polls in April.
‘Instead of Facebook, log onto EVM machine on April 15′, ‘It only takes an ink mark on finger to change the fate of your society’, ‘Remember overflowing garbage bins, dirty streets, burning leaves? Care about Dwarka, cast your vote’ are some of the slogans that will be part of the poster campaign encouraging the voters.
“Political parties have neglected our most genuine demands. In the latest census, Dwarka has been called the fastest growing residential hub. But still we get pathetic facilities from the government. We were promised 15MGD (million gallon daily) water but we get only 3.5MGD,” said Rejimon C K, president of the Dwarka Forum, which includes 300 CGHS societies and 55 RWAs of DDA flats.
Residents also complain about lack of other civic amenities like sanitation. “We can get things done only if we vote,” stresses Rejimon. So the Dwarka Forum is drawing up an agenda that will be circulated among the candidates. “The residents will decide the political, social, cultural, educational and health map of Dwarka. We are putting together a list of things we need in our area,” said Rejimon. In Dwarka, each society and RWA will be given the task to identify volunteers who will maintain a list of residents who voted on the polling day.
Like Dwarka, the RWAs in residential colonies in upscale areas of south Delhi are also trying to ensure 100% voter turnout. They are working on a campaign – Come out and vote – to encourage people to step out of their houses to cast their vote. In the MCD elections in 2007, less than 30% voters cast their votes in these areas. “People living in these colonies demand the maximum civic facilities but they don’t exercise their right to vote to elect the right corporator. We want people to vote,” said Rajiv Kakria, member of the GK-I RWA who has planned an event on March 25 at India Gate to launch the campaign, which will be followed by different awareness drives.
Never in the past, RWAs have taken such a keen interest in the municipal elections. The members are sharing ideas on emails and holding meetings to discuss possible options to implement the plan. “This time, it is going to be a mass movement. We will ensure that residents of plotted areas come out in large numbers. RWAs are also working on a pledge, which will be given to all candidates who come to seek our votes. They have to sign on the pledge, only then will we listen to their manifesto,” said Kakria.
Pankaj Aggarwal, general secretary said, the Delhi RWAs Joint Front, “We want good civic facilities as we pay so much tax. We are working on the concept of a model ward. Though the election commission is planning a voters’ awareness campaign, we, too, will start a similar one in our areas. This time the excitement in RWAs is encouraging. People are looking for a change.”
Source:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/12322715.cms

Path:

Being in the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the sanitary condition of Dwarka has been suffering seriously due to poo

r planning and execution. Be it the markets of the sub-city or any residential colony or pockets, one can see poor management of garbage everywhere. Stinking, damaged and overflowing dustbins, damaged dustbins and heap of garbage here and there on the roads and in front of the societies are the common sights in Dwarka.

In front of telephone exchange Sector 6, Sector 6 Pocket 1 and 2, Rashi apartments Sector 7, Air Force Naval Society and Agrasen Society Sector 7, in the service lane of Sector 9, in front of Sector 6/10 market, in front of the market of Sector 12, in front of Sector 3 DDA pocket, scattered garbage, stinking over flowing dustbins are clearly visible.

General secretary of Sector 6 Pocket 1 NK Sharma says, “The garbage management system is very poor and impractical in Dwarka. Just in front of the main gate of the society, the dustbins overflow but nobody bothers. We call MCD officials and DMSWSL officials but they just pass the buck. The Delhi Municipal Solid Waste Solution Limited (DMSWSL) says that only dustbin garbage collection is in their hands and MCD says that scattered garbage is due to overflow of dustbins so they will not clean them. According to the residents, DMSWSL is responsible for the disposal of garbage as they are not prompt in their action. Despite our repeated complaints the condition remains the same.”

Sunita Pandey, a resident of Sector 10 said, “Ours is one of the posh sectors of Dwarka but you will be amazed to see it is stinking. Sanitation is completely unplanned. MCD has become a biggest failure on the issue. Though several claims have been done, agencies were changed but the problems have increased.”

Despite several meetings done by various associations at Dwarka level or at society level with MCD and its lower and higher officials, nothing effective has been done. Joint secretary of Dwarka Forum Anoop Rohera informed, “Here the basic problem is lack of monitoring of private agencies by MCD and also the lack of proper infrastructure. MCD too has accepted the fact that on daily basis about 15-20 per cent garbage is not lifted by the private agencies involved in the disposal. The agency which is responsible in disposal of garbage has to clean the area of about 25 meters around any garbage dumping spot or dustbins. In this condition they cannot say that they would not lift the garbage out of the dustbins. It is completely a matter of lack of accountability. MCD should monitor such things time to time and take had steps to make the system perfect at least for a city like Dwarka.”

Recently during a round in Dwarka, Deputy Comissioner MCD Nazafgarh Zone, CR Garg said, “The whole city would be cleaned properly and I will visit again after a month to check the condition.In this period monitoring would be done whether the work is going on up to the mark or not.”

Source:

• http://www.jagrancityplus.com/city-news/solid-waste-management-a-failure_1332138809.html
• http://cityplus.epapr.in/29251/New-Ghaziabad-II/Vol-6-Issue-27-March-18-24-2012#page/4/2

R EJ I M O N C K , president, Dwarka Forum

Having repeatedly failed to

draw the attention of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) sanitation department towards garbage piled up across Dwarka, the residents are now resorting to an innovative protest, Gandhigiri. This approach was earlier successfully initiated by the Dwarka Forum, in the Dwarka-domestic airport flyover campaign.

Following this campaign, members of Dwarka Forum, and other Dwarka residents have been sending daily smses to MCD officials, thanking them for making their lives difficult by not removing the garbage.

“As many as 1,000 smses are being sent daily by Dwarka residents to the officials concerned.
The numbers will keep growing till the MCD takes its work seriously,“ says Rejimon CK, president, Dwarka Forum.

As of now the maximum number of smses are being sent to the deputy commissioner MCD (Najafgarh zone), CR Garg.
Residents are happy that their Gandhigiri protest has got some initial success. On December 14, Garg paid a visit to Dwarka and took stock of the sanitation condition. Dwarka Forum has taken pictures of around 200 sites in Dwarka where these garbage piles have been lying unattended. The Forum is planning to take more such pictures and send them to the high court and Bhure Lal who heads the Supreme Court formed committee on environment and to the National Human Rights Commission.

The Delhi Municipal Solid Waste Solution Limited (DMSWSL), a private agency under MCD has the contract for garbage management in Dwarka.
The Dwarka Forum is also demanding that mechanical sweepers, which are being used in other parts of west Delhi such as Janakpuri, be pressed into service in Dwarka as well.

On February 9, 2010, members of Dwarka Forum had met MCD commissioner, KS Mehra to highlight the sanitation problems in Dwarka. “However, the result was zero as the MCD officials declined to implement the directives issued by commissioner. The Dwarka Forum again met the additional commissioner (engineering), Anshu Prakash on March 17, 2011, since the earlier meeting with the commissioner did not bear any results,“ says MK Gupta, from the Dwarka Forum.

“After the drain in front of Paradise, Millennium and Bhirgu Apartments, Sector 9, was cleaned, the muck has been lying on the track for the last 15 days obstructing the movement of pedestrians, forcing them to either walk on the side road or main road,“ Col (retd) Bharat Panwar, president, Nehru Cooperative Group Housing Society, Sector 7, Dwarka. FACT FILE MCD claims to have appointed 361 safai karamcharis for this area The contract was signed between MCD and DMSWSL on July 17, 2009. So far, Rs 33 crore has been paid just as transportation charges.

The side road in front of Plots 17, 16, 15, 14, and vacant plot and plot 13 right up to Ramphal Chowk in Sector 7 is in disuse because of the poor maintenance, garbage and potholes.
A garbage dump is located bang on the main road 202, right next to the DDA signage that reads `this land belongs to the DDA and dumping of malba is forbidden’.
Source: http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HD/2011/12/17/ArticleHtmls/Dwarka-residents-resort-to-Gandhigiri-17122011754003.shtml?Mode=1

wo sanitation supervisors posted in their area.

While at present, 500 smses are sent to each supervisor, the Dwarka Forum is gearing up to increase this number to 5,000. They are in talks with 20 market associations and all the 300 societies along with 55 DDA pockets of Dwarka. Once all stakeholders join hands, smses will be sent to the MCD commissioner as well.

The residents have been complaining to the MCD since 2010 about the pitiable sanitation conditions in Dwarka. Dustbins are overflowing and garbage is piling up near schools and roads. “Nothing much has been done for the area,” says Rejimon C K, President of the Dwarka Forum.

In June this year, the Lajpat Nagar III residents had also resorted to Gandhigiri to get their work done.

In Dwarka, the residents are taking heart in the fact that Gandhigiri had worked in their favour in October too. The residents were unhappy with the way some speed breakers were built on the Dwarka-Palam flyover and were requesting DDA to sort it out. When their requests reached deaf ears, they resorted to sending bulk sms to DDA officials until they finally consented to fixing it.

According to a senior official at the sanitation department, MCD has already requested the contractor, responsible for collection of garbage to bring more dustbins. Around 66 new bins have arrived over the weekend. “There are some problems with sanitation but work on providing a solution has begun,” he said.

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Gandhigiri-to-solve-woes-of-Dwarka/Article1-775302.aspx

naugurate a workshop to educate the participants on the effective use of Right to Information (RTI) followed with question and answer session on RTI. Apart from this, Rajesh Gahlot, Member, DDA and Ex. Dy. Mayor, Delhi will inform the residents about various on-going and future schemes for Dwarka.

The Dwarka Forum is organizing the workshop for the office bearers of CGHS, RWA’s and other stake holders of Dwarka. Mr. Rejimon C.K. President of the Forum told that Forum has now become the voice of Dwarka and in an action oriented approach, Forum propose to pass three resolutions demanding equal water for Dwarka with the rest of Delhi, early start of construction of 750-bed hospital and unification of Dwarka’s MCD wards and MLA Constituencies.

Sampath Kumar, a leading social worker will give a presentation of effective Management of CGHS.

ng to Anna Hazare’s demand for a service guarantee bill but an early action is required by delinking this issue from the (Jan) Lok Pal Bill. There is not much difference of opinion on SGB as is in the case of Lok Pal and the SG bills enacted by the state government can serve as a model of SG Bill for Centre and will make the task of finalizing of this bill easy. At present, many Central Govt. offices are adopting very casual approach in providing services to the citizens and the citizens have to run after the officials for their legitimate work.

I cite two examples. My two Kisan Vikas Patras of issued by the Krishna Nagar Post Office were lost/ misplaced and I submitted my application along with required documents as told by the post office by hand on 8th June, 2011. The documents told by the post office for the re-issue of certificates are too much which included Indemnity Bond on Rs. 100/- stamp paper, Police Report, photocopies of Vikas Patras, duly attested identity Proofs of the witnesses to the Indemnity bond, attested copy of pay slip of witness, attested copies of identity card and residential proofs of witnesses and duly filled form No. 27 issued by the post office. Even after submitting aforesaid plethora of documents, post office had verified each and every document from me and witnesses by sending Shri Bhuwan, inspector, even verified the genuineness of FIR from the Police Station. After the Inspector sent the papers back on necessary verification, they were again sent to R.K. Puram Post Office for the verification of pay-slip etc. of the witness and I received a call from another Inspector named Rana from there for the mobile number of one witness. After taking his phone number, new inspector again verified witness particulars and if he has actually been witness in the case. Mr. Gupta, the witness has recently retired from a senior govt. post in the Central Govt. office. Interestingly, the R.K. Puram post office is nowhere in the reckoning in this case but it seemed that the same was a delaying tactic only for re-issuing the certificates.

Moreover, I was told about the complete documentation for the re-issue on making four-five rounds to the Krishna Post Office during February, 11 to June, 11. From the above, it is clear that semi-literate citizens or a citizen with paucity of time will not be able to do all this.

In response to an RTI application, Sr. Post Master informed in August that my case has been sent to Dwarka Post Office for necessary verification of my address and other particulars.. On not hearing anything further, I again submitted an RTI application on 12th Sept. 2011 to know day-to-day movement of my application, time limit for the re-issue of the certificates and whether the post office will compensate me for the delay in re-issue and so on.

I am awaiting reply of this RTI and for these two certificates though am in dire need of money which will be around 40,000 on maturity. The delay is despite the fact the Central Information Commission has ordered payment of compensation of Rs. 700/- on 17th August for causing inconvenience and detriment to Shri G C Tiwari, Sr. Postmaster, Krishna Nagar Post office. The Post Office issued faulty cheque against the maturity of some NSCs and the Post Office has not given complete information on the RTI application filed by me. Till date, even after over 3 months, I have not got the fresh KVPs even after filling two RTI applications.

In other case, one of my colleagues applied for the disconnection of his phone to MTNL, Dwarka about six-month back and the same was disconnected soon thereafter. When inquired about non-refund of security of Rs. 3,000/- on not receiving the same even after about six months, it was informed that for the refund, separate application should be made despite the fact that this request may have already been made in the application for disconnection. In fact, in such cases, the security should be refunded suo-motu.

These are not the isolated examples of casual and lackadaisical approaches in providing services by the Central Govt. offices and therefore the Central Govt. should bring Service Guarantee Bill on priority basis. Also, the rules made decades ago need simplification and should be made easy.