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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi CM inspects slum clusters in north-west Delhi
Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday inspected several slum clusters in northwest Delhi's Shalimar Bagh and other assembly constituencies and inaugurated development projects aimed at improving the living conditions of thousands of residents in Nehru Camp, Haiderpur, and Ekta Camp in Pitampura. Denying claims made by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, she also said that no slum will be demolished without first providing permanent housing to its residents. 'No slum will be demolished without providing proper housing to its residents. We will not let anyone spread fear and rumours. FIRs will be filed against those spreading false information about demolitions,' she said. This came even as AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj held meetings on Sunday with residents of JJ clusters in Adarsh Nagar and Model Town, claiming that residents were terrified and unsure when the bulldozers would reach their doorsteps. 'We discussed in depth how the newly elected BJP government in Delhi is demolishing the jhuggis of thousands of downtrodden and working-class families, rendering them way the BJP-led Delhi government is targeting jhuggi settlements one after another, it seems the party does not want poor and working-class people to live in Delhi,' Bhardwaj said. He added that the AAP would protest against the demolitions in JJ clusters of Delhi at Jantar Mantar on June 29 and appeal to the central government to take appropriate action on this issue. Gupta said that most anti-encroachment actions are court-directed and aimed at removing illegal obstructions that affect public movement or traffic. She said that redevelopment of all slums in Delhi will be carried out in a phased manner. 'It is our responsibility to ensure that they enjoy the same facilities as other citizens of the city. Proper sewer lines and drainage systems will be installed to resolve the problems of waterlogging and unhygienic conditions. Continuous supply of clean drinking water, construction and improvement of roads, and adequate street lighting will also be prioritised,' Gupta said. She added that to promote public health and sanitation, community toilets and bathing facilities will be constructed at key public locations, with an emphasis on their regular maintenance. A robust solid waste management system will also be installed and vehicles will be deployed to ensure timely and efficient waste disposal. Gupta also launched several civic works on Sunday, including the construction of Jan Suvidha Kendras, road improvements, drainage upgrades, and the creation of safe recreational spaces for children. Gupta also laid emphasis on sanitation infrastructure, announcing a 24-seater public convenience centre at Nehru Camp, Haiderpur and inspected another proposed 20-seater facility near U and V blocks of the JJ Cluster. 'The Jan Suvidha Kendra at Nehru Camp will directly benefit women, children and senior citizens who have long suffered due to lack of access to safe toilets,' Gupta said. She added that these facilities are critical not only for convenience, but also for public health and dignity. 'This is an important step toward our vision of 'Swachh Delhi, Swasth Delhi',' she said. Accompanied by local MLAs and officials from the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), Gupta also inaugurated CC pavement work in Ekta Camp, Pitampura. 'For too long, people here have walked through muddy, uneven lanes. These new pavements are not just about roads — they're about restoring dignity and safety,' Gupta said. The CM's inspection also included on-ground reviews of pipeline laying work, road resurfacing, and park maintenance. She promised that clean, well-lit parks equipped with swings and play areas would be created or restored in these densely populated neighbourhoods.
Indian Express
03-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
‘Machines don't work everywhere': CM as PWD posts pics of labourers cleaning drain without safety gear
A social media post put up by the Public Works Department (PWD) on its official X handle on Tuesday, showing labourers waist-deep in a stormwater drain while carrying out desilting work on a road in North West Delhi's Rohini, has triggered criticism from various quarters. In the pictures posted by the PWD, eight labourers were seen at the site. Four of them were inside a drain, scooping out garbage and silt without wearing shirts or proper safety gear like boots, gloves, and masks for protection. Responding to the controversy, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said, 'Look, every drain has its own situation. Machines don't work everywhere, and people don't work everywhere either. There may be places where machines can't reach. Right now, the government's target is to ensure that all drains are completely cleaned, and the work is being carried out with full attention to the court's guidelines.' The post, which sparked the row, has now been deleted, and officials said that a PWD junior engineer has been placed under suspension. Lashing out at the ruling party, AAP Delhi convenor Saurabh Bharadwaj tagged the Delhi Police Commissioner in his post on X and alleged that manual scavenging, which is illegal in India, was being carried out at the site. 'The BJP government has always exploited the Dalits and the poor. See how manual scavenging is being done. Legal action should be taken against them @CPDelhi.' As per the PWD post, in which the CM and PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh were also tagged, the labourers were working on Road number 41A, Rohini. When asked about manual scavenging claims, a senior PWD official said that the drains falling under its jurisdiction are stormwater drains where only rainwater enters. 'Manual scavenging is when a worker is entering the sewer, which is filled with human wastes and excreta…But PWD drains are stormwater drains, which only carry out rainwater, and the department uses machines for desilting work. In these areas, machines cannot enter due to narrow lanes. Workers wearing proper safety gear are deployed,' said the official. He said the PWD took cognizance of the pictures posted on its handle and has taken action against the junior engineer of that area. 'We saw that workers were not wearing any safety gear… not even gloves…Seeing the seriousness of the matter, we have placed the JE concerned under suspension and have also issued warning orders to all the engineers in this regard…They have also been asked to ensure that the workers are equipped with proper gear,' said the official. Manual scavenging is the practice of removing human excreta by hand from sewers or septic tanks. India banned the practice under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (PEMSR). Hundreds of manual scavengers have died in the past decade after inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning sewers and septic tanks. In 2013, the definition of manual scavengers was also broadened to include people employed to clean septic tanks, ditches, or railway tracks. The Act recognises manual scavenging as a 'dehumanising practice,' and cites a need to 'correct the historical injustice and indignity suffered by the manual scavengers'. However, in Delhi, PWD has been blaming the MCD for the illegal puncturing of stormwater drains over the years, especially during monsoon, when waterlogging occurs. This makes the implementation of the Act difficult, as per officials. PWD manages about 2,100 km of stormwater drains and manages 12,892 small drains spread over around 6,067 km. These merge with big drains like Najafgarh and Barapullah drain, which come under the Irrigation and Flood Control Department (I&FC), and as some big drains cannot be tapped, the untreated water eventually flows into Yamuna. As part of the pre-monsoon drive to prevent waterlogging, the desilting work is being carried out by the PWD on a large scale across the city. The department had earlier posted pictures of several other areas like Munirka, Mangolpuri, Safdarjung enclave, Mayur Vihar, IIT Delhi, Lajpat Nagar, Jangpura, New Friends Colony, and several other locations where workers are seen inside the drains cleaning it. Last month, L-G VK Saxena and the CM visited a site in South Delhi's Barapullah where workers were cleaning drains without wearing any safety gear.
New Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
BJP ignoring fee hikes by private schools: AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj
NEW DELHI: AAP Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj on Wednesday strongly criticised the BJP-led administration in the capital, accusing it of working hand-in-hand with private schools and ignoring repeated complaints about unfair fee hikes. At a press conference, Bharadwaj highlighted an incident in Dwarka where a private school allegedly expelled 34 students after their parents protested against increased fees. 'These students were stopped at the school gate and sent back home. This is not an isolated case, it shows a bigger problem,' he said. He further alleged that students whose parents have not paid the hiked fees are being publicly humiliated by teachers. 'This kind of treatment inside classrooms is deeply disturbing,' Bharadwaj added. Blaming the BJP government for inaction, he said that reports of fee irregularities had been submitted by committees under SDMs and DMs, but no steps were taken. 'Why are these audit reports being kept from the public?' he asked. Bharadwaj also claimed that school managements are using bouncers to scare parents who are protesting. He alleged that many school owners and directors are linked to the BJP and even hold party positions. In a post on X (formerly twitter), he shared a video of security guards outside a Dwarka school, calling it the 'new normal' for Delhi's middle class under BJP rule. Meanwhile, families of 31 students from the same school said their children were denied entry even though they had paid the fees online.
