Latest news with #ManmeetPSArora
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi: Until FOB built for Rajputana Rifles Regiment, PWD to clean culvert daily
The Public Works Department (PWD) told the Delhi high court on Friday that it will remove debris and garbage from a culvert used daily by more than 3,000 soldiers of the Rajputana Rifles Regiment on their way to the parade ground as a short-term solution until a foot overbridge is constructed. The court took cognizance of a Hindustan Times report highlighting the unsanitary conditions the soldiers were forced to endure and passed an order on Friday directing PWD to ensure the culvert was cleaned so that soldiers could use it until the FOB was built. The bench, comprising justices Pratibha M Singh and Manmeet PS Arora, observed that the existence of debris and stones will be hazardous for soldiers, especially with monsoons expected to arrive in the coming months, which will make the path muddy and more treacherous. 'While the FOB is designed and built, the engineer in-charge has agreed to get the walking path cleaned with some tiling in the culvert after removal of malba and stones, which could be hazardous. Accordingly, let the cleaning in the area be undertaken forthwith and photographs shall be placed before this bench on June 18 along with the status report,' the court said on Friday. The PWD engineer said that in-principle approval for the long-pending FOB has been given by the PWD sub-committee on Wednesday. He admitted that this construction would take time due to the area's topography, vehicular movement and the metro line. On Thursday, PWD officials had conducted a site visit to decide the FOB's location and said that the same was likely to come up between Delhi's metro pillar numbers 64 and 65 of the Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB) and would not require tree felling permission. In the meantime, PWD proposed to make the path used by the soldiers clean by removing the debris on their route through the culvert. Apprehending the accumulation of mud in the culvert during monsoon, the court also directed PWD to clean the area on a daily basis. 'During monsoon, there is a possibility of a lot of mud being collected in the area. After rains, the maintenance of the area shall be undertaken on a daily basis so that no inconvenience is caused to the movement of the soldiers in the culvert,' the court said. The order was passed in a suo motu plea taking cognizance of HT's report, 'A smelly trail from barracks to grounds: Regiment's daily battle in Delhi,' which had shown how 3,000 soldiers of the Rajputana Rifles, the oldest rifle regiment of the Indian Army, located in the Delhi Cantonment, are forced to march through a culvert four times a day– twice before breakfast and twice after dusk. The report highlighted the failure of the Delhi government to construct the FOB at the spot. During the hearing on Friday, PWD also suggested that traffic signals and a zebra crossing be installed for the soldier's convenience. Considering the suggestion, the court directed the deputy commissioner of police, traffic and PWD to convene a meeting on June 3. The order said, 'The concerned DCP shall consider the feasibility of creating zebra crossing and the traffic signal, in a manner so that the vehicular movement is also not obstructed in any manner and for a limited time only. Let a meeting be conducted with the DCP traffic and Bhushan (PWD engineer) with the nodal officer in the DCB on June 3, at 11am. The DCB shall appoint a nodal officer for all these works.' The matter will next be heard on June 18.
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi HC orders demolition of Madrasi Camp JJ cluster for drain cleaning
New Delhi The Delhi high court has ordered the demolition of a slum cluster encroaching upon public land near the old Barapullah bridge to facilitate the timely clearance of the Barapullah drain ahead of the impending monsoon season in the Capital. In an order on Friday, the high court directed the Delhi government's Public Works Department (PWD) to commence the demolition of the Madrasi Camp from June 1. 'Timely clearance of the Barapullah drain is imperative to prevent severe waterlogging in the adjoining areas. After having considered the entire matter comprehensively, and the general circumstances currently prevalent, this court is of the opinion that the demolition ought to be done in a systematic manner. The demolition of the Madrasi camp shall commence from June 1, 2025,' the court said in its order. The demolition, which was to begin last September, was put on hold by the high court. In an order passed on September 10, 2024, the high court ordered status quo on a plea filed by the residents of the Madrasi Camp JJ cluster, granting temporary reprieve for residents. The decision to undertake the demolition was taken in compliance with the high court's directions to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), in a separate proceeding, to remove unauthorised constructions along the Yamuna river belt. Disposing of the slum dwellers' petition on Friday, a bench led by justice Prathiba M Singh issued a slew of directions to undertake the process in a systematic manner and for the smooth rehabilitation of residents. It said, 'The rehabilitation of the Madrasi Camp dwellers is also essential for the de-clogging of the Barahpullah drain. None of the dwellers can claim any rights beyond the right of rehabilitation, as the land is public land which is encroached upon.' The bench, also comprising justice Manmeet PS Arora, in its order released on Saturday, directed the DDA, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) and PWD to hold two camps from May 10 to May 12 for handing over possession letters of flats allotted in Narela and sanctioning loans for payment of ₹1.12 lakh, as per the Delhi Slum & JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015. In its 13-page order, the court further directed eligible allottees to move their belongings from the Madrasi Camp between May 20 and May 31, and directed the DDA/DUSIB to ensure the availability of all amenities at the allotted flats in Narela by May 20. To ensure a smooth transition and admission of the displaced children from JJ dweller families, the court asked the authorities to accommodate them in nearby schools in Narela before the new academic session commences. In their petition, residents had sought a stay on the eviction until implementation of proper rehabilitation measures. In their petition, the residents underscored that they have been living in the area for around 40 years and were entitled to rehabilitation as they are protected under the 2015 policy.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Panel to look into bypassing of new flow meters at STPs
New Delhi: Delhi High Court has set up a panel to investigate if a substantial portion of water is bypassing the newly installed flow meters and sensors in 25 sewage treatment plants meant to monitor pollution in the Yamuna.A special bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Manmeet PS Arora said the "entire purpose of STPs would be defeated if the water/sewage is permitted to bypass the flow meters and the sensors at the outlet". Ordering a team of officials, lawyers and petitioners to inspect each of the flow meters, the high court expressed its opinion that "since 35 out of the 37 STPs are now stated to be having flow meters and are part of an online monitoring system with the sensors, the same deserve to be inspected to get the actual position from the ground".The court, which was hearing a suo motu matter relating to waterlogging in the city, tasked the panel with conducting on-site inspections of all STPs and to give a report if the entire sewage/water flowing into the Yamuna through the STPs is being treated before being released into the river. "Whether there are flow meters and sensors on all the outlets of the 35 STPs; whether the entire discharge which is going through the inlet is passing through the flow meters/online monitoring or is there any bypassing of the same; what is the function of the online monitoring system in supervising the treatment process in the STPs and whether it is effective," it high court specified that the committee, after inspection, would also recommend if flow meters would be required even at the inlets as well and if it would be feasible. In further directions, the court ordered Delhi Jal Board to furnish water treatment reports from all 37 STPs from April 20, 2025, including details of the extent/quantum of sewage inflow, outflow of treated water, as well as the quality of water before and after the court asked AIIMS to cooperate with DJB and other agencies in laying down a new sewer line on its premises. Operation Sindoor Operation Sindoor: Several airports in India closed - check full list Did Pak shoot down Indian jets? What MEA said India foils Pakistan's attack on Jammu airport: What we know so far "In this court's opinion, in order to enable the flow of water and avoid waterlogging, the connection between Green Park Extension and SDA Extension and Hauz Khas is essential. The court is clear as to the effect that refusing to lay a sewer line is not an option exercisable by AIIMS in view of the larger public interest involved, as colonies nearby cannot be allowed to be flooded—causing harm and danger to lives and property," it observed.
