To

The Principal Commissioner cum Secretary,                              Aug,2

DDA, INA Vikas Sadan, New Delhi

 

Subject : Summarization/ clarification of Objections / suggestions to Zonal Plans

 

Sir,

 

I am trying to summarize and clarify the objections filed on the above subject.  My objections are primarily focused on the resource crunch in the city and its carrying capacity in light of that. The major resource crunch is of water followed by sewage disposal.

 

WATER : Unfortunately, neither the DJB, nor the DDA or any other agency has tried to come out with a fact sheet that would show the actual water consumption and its sources. The most accurate manner for deriving these figures is by making a back calculation through the sewage released. With information from DJB and CPCB, it turns out that the actual water consumption in the city is almost 1200 MGD. Water imported from the three rivers being 650 MGD, shows that the rest, more than 500 MGD, is sourced from groundwater. Various published studies indicate that the recharge potential of groundwater is not more than equivalent of 100-150 MGD. A report by INTACH on measures to augment groundwater recharge shows potential of increase by only 18 MGD.

 

This leaves us with two frightening conclusions:

1.      We are finishing our emergency water supply (ground water reserves) by withdrawing from it on a regular basis.

2.      We are heavily dependent on imported water. If there is a drought in Haryana, U.P or Punjab, water may not reach us leading to a mass exodus. 

 

Information sought under RTI from DJB indicate that out of more than 1500 unauthorized colonies in the city , only 336 of them have water supply from DJB. Planned colonies like Dwarka have negligible supply from DJB. Many villages have direct supply from tube wells. Certainly, the leftover colonies and many more facing shortage/deficiency of in their current supply from DJB are drawing from groundwater. It is beyond our understanding as why should DDA go for further expansion (vertical and horizontal) of the city, till the time the shortage faced by existing populace in the city is met on a sustained basis.

 

The existing crisis is already so severe that we just need to visit many poor colonies in the city where the residents are spending a large portion of their income on buying water from private water tankers. And at many places the poor are suffering from water borne diseases, forced into an unending circle of poverty.

 

WASTE DISPOSAL :

Sewage : I was part of a yatra along river Yamuna downstream of Delhi. All the villages and towns along the river are suffering from the waste water coming from Delhi. The aquifers are polluted, resulting in contamination of the crops harvested. The Agra canal carrying major part of Delhi sewage is spreading out Delhi’s waste over a large part of fertile agricultural lands in Haryana and U.P. The Environment Minister of Haryan has already complained this. During the Yatra we found that people are highly agitated at this destruction and its only a matter of time that this matter spiral into  true inter state water wars unforeseen.

 

Question arises, when we can not handle our current sewage, why are we creating scope for more sewerage generation by expanding the city. The city should only expand further after the sewage disposal is done to the satisfaction of people of downstream states and Delhi both.

 

Solid Waste: Delhi is finding it difficult to substitute the current landfill sites which most of them are already overflowing. The recent site selection in Bhatti mines is the most environmentally dangerous thing planned. All this shows we are unable to handle our current solid waste generation. In such a scenario how can we think of more solid waste through new urban expansion.

 

SUGGESTIONS ;

1.                  All the expansion Plans ( including both vertical and horizontal expansion) be  postponed till the time there is availability on sustained basis of the basic resources like water and satisfactory disposal of waste generated.

2.                  The natural resources in the city , the ridge, Yamuna Floodplains and the remaining agricultural land need to be strictly conserved.

3.                  The farmers can be given incentives as done in Costa Rica to preserve their agricultural lands for purposes of food security, water recharge, oxygenation and other bio-diversity functions. The system Adopted in Costa Rica is called PES (Payment for Eco System Services) and is reportedly doing very well.

 

 

I have gone through all the available zonal plans and have found something inherently defective about them. I am also trying to give the best possible suggestion to overcome these defects.

 

1.      CARRYING CAPACITY : In many of these plans there is an effort to increase the holding capacity through redensification, horizontal or vertical expansion. What is most worrisome is that there is nowhere described the factors that can determine the carrying capacity of a zone. The only  factor that is being thought about is more and more housing and creating infrastructure like laying pipelines and sewage network. Certainly all these factors are within the scope of the city’s administration and can be achieved. But there is more to the holding capacity than these factors.

 

There are constraints that are not within the scope of a zone and at many times not even  within the scope of the city and involve a much larger planning involving a  bigger region i.e the city and its hinterland. Water is one such basic infrastructure. Waste Disposal is another one.

 

WATER: The city is currently drawing water from three river systems i.e Yamuna, Ganga and Beas and  the DJB is able to supply  less than  700 MGD after sourcing from these basins. Whereas, the city is releasing sewage to the extent of 1025 MGD, which includes sewage released in Yamuna and diverted for alternative uses like irrigation after treatment. Taking the standard norm that sewage generated is 80% of water consumed, the actual water consumption figure comes to 1275 MGD. This shows that 1275 minus 700 =575 MGD of water is extracted from the ground by residents directly and used. Question arises if so much of water is also replenished. Studies indicate that extraction is four times more than recharge and the recharge potential is also very low because  Delhi is in a semi-arid region with low rainfall i.e 42 cms during monsoons. Rainwater harvesting through any method can not meet more than 5% of water demand of the city. In support of my above contentions , I am attaching two studies as annexure I & II, one of which is also published.

           

The analysis indicate that the our groundwater resource is  sustaining the city at least to the extent of 40%  but the resource itself is unsustainable with the current population load of the city. The question arises if we can not sustain the current population load of the city, how can we dream of  further expansion.

 

This is nothing but akin to suicide. During one of our meetings with Mr Sareen, the Engineer in Chief of DDA, we were told that DDA does not think on these lines and making water available is the responsibility of the DJB. Here DDA is the chief planning agency and it has no right to wish away problems. We must remember DJB is not the source of water. It can not create water. It merely treats raw water to potable water. The condition in other states which share the same common resources of water is worsening day by day and it will be a fool’s choice to ignore whats written on the wall.

 

Unfortunately, the plans seem to be prepared keeping in mind the demand and not the supply.

 

SEWAGE DISPOSAL : Today more than 750 MGD of sewage that originates in Delhi is released into Yamuna. Only 250 MGD of sewage generated in the city is treated and sent for alternative uses like irrigation. All our local water bodies like johads, talabs have become centres for sewage disposal and thus recharging the sewage back to the ground. The Yamuna with the current load of sewage have polluted all the adjacent aquifers in Delhi and downstream in both Haryana and U.P with cumulative effect going further down, killing all aquatic life and vegetation. Where, we are unable to handle the current sewage generation, can we afford to create further generation of the sewage through further expansion of the city. A recent remark in the media by people of Haryana and U.P over this sewage generation is likely to bring us to a confrontation with these states in near future.

 

SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL: Our major landfills are currently full to the brim. The bleak scenario of this infrastructure is best reflected by a statement by CM Shiela Dixit that appeared in THE HINDU recently,  where she said that Delhi will ask neighboring states for landfill states in return for sending Metro to them. Has any state really given us sites for landfills, if not, then , why are we expanding.

 

 

2.      AMENITIES TO UNAUTHORIZED COLONIES AND SLUMS : We have more than 1500 unauthorised colonies . Many of these colonies are not even noted in the zonal plans. The F Zone plans talks about Mahipal Pur BlocK A  only , whereas, many more colonies and blocks upto K exist in this area.

 

The major question is the amenities to these colonies are not yet made available but we are talking of further expansion. Where are we going to provide water for them, the sewage network and parks and playground for the children in these colonies. If we have to relocate some among them, we should be doing that as a priority before inviting more people from around the country to settle in our five new mega cities (as reported by media in reference to the expansion plans). The small survey I have done with my colleagues have revealed that the conditions in these colonies at many places is worse than sub human. I do not know why more people are invited to settle in this city through these expansion plans. Given the condition of infrastructure, the existing populace and new comers, both may not survive if these plans go through. The smell of a real estate scam is not difficult to feel. There have been instances of massive land buying by big private parties   before MPD-2021 was notified. Such big things can only happen with collusion.

 

3.      RIDGE NOT DEMARCATED ; the ridge tranverses through many of the zones. But , except for Aasola Bhatti sanctuary it is not demarcated anywhere on the ground. Result is continuous encroachment over this lung of the city. After the notification  in 1994 on orders of Supreme Court, the process of notification is yet to completed after 12 years. In 1994, after notice for inviting claims were issued 37 claims were received by the forest department within the mandatory 3 months period. The rest of the area should have been immediately demarcated and protected but till date nothing has been done. It is learnt that more claims are being entertained regularly by concerned authorities. How is all this happening and can a Zonal  plan be really formed where the status of land is not made clear.

 

4.      WHY EXPANSION WITHIN THE CITY, WHEN WE HAVE NCR FOR THE SAME PURPOSE : It is really a paradox that on one hand we have been developing NCR to decongest the city and connecting the NCR regions by wide roads and Metro, whereas , on other hand we are talking of growing within the city.

 

5.      ROADS : We are  continually expanding roads within the city, to accommodate more and more traffic. The traffic is bound to increase further with the proposed expansion within the city. Can we really handle so much. The department has no studies to show further traffic increase and plan to handle it. For how long can be fly over the problems by building flyovers. We seem to augmenting these problems by keeping our eyes shut today.

 

6.      CONDTIONS OF DELHI DIFFERENT THAN OTHER METROS ; We must remember that unlike other metros the geographical situation of Delhi is not so conducive to handle so much of load. All other metros like Chennai, Bombay and Kolkatta are situated next to sea. The sea act as a great sink for pollution both for sewage as well as air pollution. All these metros have a much higher rainfall patterns, more than double that of   Delhi. They are not surrounded by such heavily agricultured basins like ours.

 

7.      ACCOUNTABILITY OF PLANNERS : The points raised above clearly shows that the decisions of few are going to affect the lives of millions of people in this city for ever. The infrastructural crisis, in waiting, particularly that of water, may lead to collapse of the city and a resulting exodus.       

 

What is the accountability of the planners ( the bureaucrats, ministers, technocrats involved, not just the people who have been key persons in actively promoting the new plan but also those who have preferred to keep silent inspite of their knowledge, capacity and duty to intervene). If our fears come true, can these people be allowed to get away with impunity. The key planners and their companions must be made to pay for playing with lives of millions of people and their future generations. An accountability factor is involved here where the responsible people with their own children  will be held accountable  for doing this crime.

 

8.      SUGGESTION : My suggestion is to preserve the available open spaces in the city in whatsoever form they exist. Agricultural land still forming a large part of green belt in the city should be immediately preserved rather than opening for constructions. A wonderful example in this direction have already been tried in Costa Rica by following the system of PES ( Payment for Ecosystem Services). The Farmers are given extra incentives for doing water recharge, growing forests etc in their lands. Such a system can go a long way in stopping the further mushrooming of unauthorized colonies in the city and at the same time preserve our vital natural resources.

 

Diwan Singh

A-9, Shaman Apts , Plot-9,

Sector-23, Dwarka, New Delhi-110075

Ph 9212061046

diwans2007@gmail.com