Latest news with #AnushkaSrivastava
Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
After a 10-year hiatus, Purana Qila's popular boat ride makes a comeback
By Anushka Srivastava The moat has been cleaned, boats have arrived, and a ticketing counter has been set up. Almost 10 years after it was suspended, the popular boat ride on the Purana Qila lake finally made a comeback and was opened for visitors on a trial basis after the inauguration on Monday. A 20-25 minute ride costs between Rs 125 and Rs 150 per person. The ride starts from the Talaqi Darwaza side of the lake, and services are available between 9 am and 6 pm. Both two-seater and four-seater paddle boats are available. A non-profit, Sabhyata Foundation, played a key role in the resumption of services. It serves as a 'Monument Mitra' for five iconic Delhi landmarks: the Red Fort, Purana Qila, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Safdarjung Tomb, and Humayun's Tomb. Monument Mitra, also known as the 'Adopt a Heritage' project, is a scheme by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to involve private and public sector companies in developing and maintaining amenities at protected monuments. Ajay Verma, CEO, Heritage and Events, Sabhyata Foundation, explained that they signed an MoU with the ASI on April 1, 2024, under which they are functioning as 'Smarak Sarthi'. For the past four–five months, preparations were underway at Purana Qila to operate boats and related facilities. A lot of work has gone into enhancing the visitor experience, including building a cafeteria, new toilets, and other amenities, according to the non-profit. A major launch event is planned for September. Currently, there are five to six boats — the number is expected to increase to 20-25 later. On Monday, Ohi Pecha, a Hotel Management student from Udaipur, was the first visitor to experience the resumed service. 'It was a good experience… I came with friends. We did boating for 20 minutes, but they said we could do it for as long as we wanted since we were the first ones.' Regarding safety provisions, Verma asserted, 'We have world-class tenders, life jackets in all sizes, and National Disaster Response Force-trained staff. We also have insurance, proper licensing, and professional divers.' While there are only four lifeguards at the site at present, the number is expected to increase once the service is in full swing from September. Sakshi Das (29), one of the lifeguards, is also a trainer. Originally from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, she is here to train the other lifeguards and will return once the task is done. She facilitates boating at the Bhilai Zoo. The boating facility around Purana Qila used to attract more than 2,000 visitors each weekend before it stopped in August 2016. It was halted after the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation was unable to renew its agreement with the ASI for the moat's upkeep. As a result, the water body, which stretches from Purana Qila's Talaqi Darwaza to the Bada Darwaza, dried up, and boating had to be stopped. Even as the moat were revived in 2018, boat rides did not start. (Anushka Srivastava is an intern with The Indian Express)
Indian Express
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Delicious weekend for Delhiites as 34th Mango Festival kicks off
Written by Anushka Srivastava 'Bachpan ki yaadein, garmi ki chhuttiyan, naani ka ghar, bade se pateele mein saare aam dubo ke rakh dena, aur phir ikatthe baith ke khana, kabhi choosne wala, kabhi kaatne wala aur phir mango shake bana ke peena. (Childhood memories of summer holidays at grandma's home — putting all the mangoes in a big pot of water, then sitting together to eat them. Sometimes the kind you slurp, sometimes the kind you slice, and finally, blending them into a mango shake to enjoy).' Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta evoked the nostalgia associated with the king of fruits as she inaugurated the 34th Mango Festival 2025 at Thyagaraj Stadium, Friday. The festival is an effort to celebrate the different varieties of mangoes grown in various states and salutes the farmers. 'This year, many government departments and universities such as ICR Delhi, IAR Delhi, Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Directorate of Horticulture UP, Bihar Agricultural University, Hisar Agricultural University are also participating, making this festival grander than ever before,' said Niharika Rai, MD & CEO, Delhi Tourism. Chief Secretary Dharmendra, inviting all Delhiites to visit this festival, said, 'Swaad, Sanskriti, Parampara aur Parivar ke saath samay bitaane ka achha avsar hai yah Aam Mahotsav. (The Mango Festival is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate flavour, culture, tradition, and spend quality time with family.') Appreciating Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, Kapil Mishra, Minister of Art, Culture and Language, said most farmers in the festival have benefited and taken loans under one of the government schemes. Md. Haroon, a mango grower from Lucknow, has been coming to this festival to sell his mangoes every year. 'Achhi bikri hoti hai isliye har saal aate hai yaha (I come here every year because sales are good.') The three-day festival from June 27-29 is open from 11 am to 9 pm for visitors. It includes an exhibition showcasing 400 varieties of mangoes, including Malda, Sindoori, Kesar, Amrapali, Mallika and many more. In addition, visitors can explore a range of stalls selling diverse varieties of the fruit and various mango-based products. Engaging competitions will be held, including slogan writing and quizzes for children, as well as a challenge to eat as many mangoes, with separate categories for men and women. There is a selfie point where people can click photos. Cultural programmes will be held throughout the event. A special attraction is a real mango orchard inside the stadium. This gives children who have grown up in the city a chance to experience what a mango orchard looks like, said officials. A free shuttle service is available for all visitors from the Dilli Haat-INA Metro station. (Anushka Srivastava is an intern with The Indian Express)
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Fear, anger prevail in Batla House ahead of impending demolition
By Anushka Srivastava, Shreyashi Gupta 'Why were we given electricity meters? Why were water and gas supplies provided? Government agencies came and installed meters, collected revenue, and now, all of a sudden, we get a demolition notice,' said a frustrated Jawed, echoing the sentiments in Batla House area of Southeast Delhi's Okhla ahead of an impending demolition drive. Anger and chaos prevailed in the streets of Batla House on Wednesday as locals feared that bulldozers could come in at any moment. Many locals, who said they had been living in the area for five to six decades, said they were shocked when the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) put up demolition notices two weeks ago on May 26, announcing that the demolition was expected to take place on June 11. 'Mera makaan 1978 ka hai… humne koi aur arrangement nahi ki hai. Hume court pe poora bharosa hai.' (My house was constructed in 1978, we haven't made any other alternate arrangements as we have complete faith in the court,' said Sultan, another local. Roshan Begum (75) recalled living in a kuccha in the area since 1983. She and her family recently moved to a pucca house after taking a loan from their relatives. 'Agar ye toot gaya to pata nahi hum kaha jaayenge, aur karza to hume tab bhi chukana padega. Hum to bas yahi chahte hai ki hume wo mile jo humara haq hai.' (If this gets demolished, we have no idea where we'll go, and we'll still have to repay the loan. All we want is to get what rightfully belongs to us).' Her daughter, Naseem, broke down while explaining that they are seven brothers and sisters, each with two to three children. They all live in the same house. 'In the last stage of their life, if my parents see this house getting torn down, they would be rendered helpless and hopeless.' she lamented. Several families also challenged the DDA's claim, asserting that their homes did not fall under the disputed land. A few residents, like Ishrat Jahan, managed to get temporary stay orders. 'I didn't even cook Eid feast this year,' she said. 'I was busy collecting documents to prove our house is legal.' With most people lacking alternative housing options, they pinned all their hopes on the hearing in the Delhi High Court scheduled for Thursday afternoon on the larger petition filed by Okhla MLA and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Amanatullah Khan. When the petition was finally heard, the HC allowed the AAP MLA to withdraw his petition, saying it was non-maintainable. The court passed a general order of protection in a PIL of this sort was likely to jeopardise the case of individual litigants. Khan said he sought to withdraw the PIL so that the Okhla MLA, 'who is a public-spirited individual', can 'inform local residents of Batla House of their right to file appropriate proceedings before the appropriate forum within three working days.' The DDA, however, refused to give any written assurance to the court about the demolition. The HC had earlier refused to grant an urgent stay on the planned demolition. Earlier on May 7, the Supreme Court had passed an order directing the demolition of alleged illegal construction. Subsequently, on May 26, the DDA had put up the notices, which stated, 'The Hon'ble Supreme Court has directed that such action shall be taken after giving 15 days' notice to the occupants of such illegal/unauthorised structures… the demolition program shall be carried out from 11-06-2025 (Wednesday) without any further notice. The occupants… have been duly warned.' (The writers are interns with The Indian Express)
