DDA’s third hearing focuses on inputs for a future-ready Delhi

NEW DELHI: Delhi Development Authority (DDA) held its third public hearing on the draft Master Plan for Delhi-2041 on Monday, which touched upon vital areas of the city’s future development, such as environment, economy, shelter and social infrastructure, transport and mobility, etc.
DDA had held the first public hearing on October 18, where the authority had said that working classes, including migrant workers, household workers, street vendors and residents of resettlement colonies, unauthorised colonies and JJ colonies had given their inputs regarding the draft plan.
On Monday, 1,246 people, who had given their suggestions and objections for the draft plan, were invited to give oral submissions. In a statement, DDA said that during this hearing, issues related to vision and goals for the master plan, environment issues like air, water, noise pollution, cleaning of river Yamuna and floodplain were discussed. Other major issues discussed by the participants included traffic congestion, parking issues, mixed use streets, charges for commercial areas, etc.
Many respondents gave their suggestions regarding the development of old areas of the city, redevelopment of industrial areas, provisions for rental and affordable housing, and improvement of unauthorised colonies and slum clusters. People also want the master plan to include provisions for facilities for women, children and elderly, affordable public transportation system and facilities for pedestrians.
Other important issues on which many respondents gave their suggestions were solid waste management, utilities plans, cleanliness of localities, drainage and sewerage system, etc. The authority said that the public hearings will continue till November and a detailed schedule of hearings is available on DDA’s website www.dda.gov.in, under the ‘What’s new’ section.
“If we talk about the social infrastructure and healthcare facilities in the city, there were no beds, ICUs, ventilators, oxygen or medicines during the second wave of the novel coronavirus in our city. Can we call it robust infrastructure?” asked B S Vohra, convenor of RWA Bhagidari and president of the East Delhi RWAs Joint Front, in the hearing. “Everyone knows how difficult it is to get admission to the nursery schools of the city as well as the colleges,” he said.
Other respondents complained that not enough time was given to people during the hearing, which is an important step towards the finalisation of the master plan.
“DDA hearing is a joke. When there are no Covid restrictions, why is DDA insisting on giving online hearing?” said Vishal Ohri, general secretary, LSCs Federation of Delhi, adding that most of the people who wish to attend the hearings are not being heard due to lack of time. “Why do they want to rush everything? What is the urgency?” he asked. Ohri said that those who don’t have access to the Internet would not be able to give their suggestions at all.