Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Not keen on high-rise buildings, says Dikshit - The Times of India

Not keen on high-rise buildings, says Dikshit - The Times of India:

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit on Tuesday expressed reservations over allowing high-rise buildings in the capital, saying that availability of power and water should be factored in before going ahead with such plans.
Responding to a question on Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath's recent comment that the capital should grow vertically, Dikshit said that before constructing taller buildings, power and water availability must be taken into account.
"It needs to be seen how the review of the Master Plan of Delhi shapes up. "Let us see how it comes along. Plans will be made and then opinions will be sought over it," she said.


"Personally I am not very keen on high-rises because Delhi has a very great sense of space," Dikshit told reporters on the sidelines of a workshop organised by the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB).


The workshop on strategies for development of metro cities / regional centres and counter magnate areas was addressed by Union Urban Development Minister, Kamal Nath, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Delhi Urban Development Minister, Dr AK Walia.


"But yes, in the outer portions of Delhi where there is lot of vacant land and which is no longer being used for agriculture, as agriculture activities are fading out, I am sure we can make (buildings there)," she commented. "We must have enough water. We must have enough power. There will be escalators which should be functioning. We also have to maintain greens," Dikshit said.


Dikshit exhorted the NCR Planning Board to facilitate the completion of the eastern and western peripheral expressways to ensure that heavy transport vehicles such as trucks need not pass through Delhi.


She said that expressways are extremely important as a million trucks have been passing through the city which is already burdened with lakhs of vehicles registered in the capital city. The eastern and western peripheral expressways were envisaged to reduce congestion of traffic in Delhi and for developing areas in Haryana and UP. Delhi Government agreed to provide 50 per cent initial cost of Rs.1307 crores for both expressways and has already released it share of Rs 653.50 crore. However, work is yet to take off on the eastern peripheral expressway where it is learnt from sources NHAI is yet to award the work. In case of the western peripheral expressway being executed by Haryana government several deadlines for completion have been missed.
The Delhi CM also pointed out that the NCR is becoming highly densely populated. There is a huge pressure on water, transport connectivity, health and education as 5 lakh people arrive in Delhi every year and make the city their home.


Dikshit further added that her government is willing to settle the issue of Munak canal with Haryana Government. She encouraged the NCR Planning Board to use its influence in getting the canal operationalized. This concrete lined canal will result in saving of over 150 cusecs of water, which is otherwise wasted by seepage and evaporation.

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