Dying a slow
death, these
trees get fresh
lease of life
Civic body comes
to the rescue of
about 50 trees —
left to perish
after a road
widening work —
in the upmarket
Lodhi Road area
About 50 trees
on Lodhi Road
got a new lease
of life after
TOI reported on
November 2 about
their pathetic
condition during
a road widening
project for the
Commonwealth
Games. Municipal
Corporation of
Delhi (MCD) has
started work on
building mud and
stone guards
around each tree
that were
earlier left
standing on a
small raised
platform of mud
and informed the
forest
department that
the trees are
not required to
be cut for the
project.
Officials from
the forest
department had
said that while
no permission
for felling of
the trees had
been given
earlier, they
would have to be
cut perforce due
to their
condition.
The ongoing work
is part of a Rs
350 crore
Commonwealth
Games project
that involves
covering the
Sunehri nallah
from Lala Lajpat
Rai Marg to Dyal
Singh College
and Kushak
nallah from
South Gate of
Jawaharlal Nehru
stadium to IVth
Avenue Road in
order to provide
parking for 700
buses. While
permission for
cutting 1,058
trees had been
granted by the
forest
department, MCD
had not been
allowed to touch
the trees on the
stretch in front
of India Habitat
Centre’s gate no
2 to Kotla
Railway gate.
The project also
does not have
any clearance
from the Delhi
Urban Art
Commission.
MCD officials
maintained all
along that the
forest
department had
not refused them
permission to
fell the trees
and they were
awaiting a final
verdict.
However, with
work on at
breakneck speed,
the contractor
dug around the
trees, leaving
them perched
precariously on
small patches of
mud and prone to
falling in even
a small gust of
wind. After TOI
highlighted the
problem, MCD
quickly got its
act together and
started building
supports around
all the trees.
‘‘They recently
intimated us
that they no
longer required
to cut any tree
on the stretch.
Earlier, we
thought all the
trees would have
to be brought
down, but now
that they have
taken corrective
measures, we
feel the trees
are safe,’’ said
sources in the
forest
department.
27 December 2009,
Times of India
Exhibition
to promote
ceramics in
daily life
Kulhad - the
traditional
Indian earthen
cup is the theme
of an exhibition
currently on
display in the
Capital to
promote use of
ceramics in
daily life.The
National
Handicrafts and
Handlooms Museum
in collaboration
with Pro
Helvetia - Swiss
Arts Council
have organised
the contemporary
ceramics
exhibition
called ‘1001
cups’ at Crafts
Museum.
“The exhibition
not only pays
tribute to the
traditional
little tea cup
from India but
also aims to
demonstrate the
rich diversity
that exists in
present-day
ceramics and
thus share with
the general
public a wide
variety of
approaches to
the use of
ceramic
materials,” says
Sangeeta Rana,
PRO, Swiss Arts
Council.
The idea behind
the exhibition,
which concludes
on December 31,
was conceived by
Swiss ceramist
and curator
Claude Presset.
“Back in 1983, I
discovered the
little Indian
terracotta
teacup, the
kulhad, which is
discarded after
a single use
during one of my
visits to
Rajasthan. I
brought one back
with me from
there, which I
had drunk out
of, it was so
beautiful that I
could not bring
myself to throw
it away. And it
has been in my
workshop ever
since,” says
Presset.
The exhibition
was inspired by
this cup, and is
dedicated to it.
Sadly, the
kulhad may soon
disappear
because of the
development of
industrial
production and
the replacement
of clay by other
materials, she
says.
27 December 2009,
Tribune
Unique event
to remember
couplet-king
Ghalib
When the kathak
maestro Uma
Sharma,
writer-diplomat
Pavan K Varma,
heritage
activist Firoz
Bakht Ahmed,
poet Gulzar
Dehlvi,
bureaucrat Abid
Hussain and the
couplets of
Ghalib go
together, the
churning
produces
Yadgar-e-Ghalib
--- a two-day
commemoration of
Mirza Ghalib
held on the
occasion of the
inimitable
poet’s 212th
birth
anniversary.
Ghalib was born
December 27,
1797. Coming in
the wake of
reports of the
misuse and
vandalisation of
Ghalib’s haveli
by holding of
wedding
receptions, the
cultural
programme, which
will end
tomorrow, will
seek to give new
life and meaning
to his ancestral
property in the
old city,
according to
Firoz Bakht
Ahmed, heritage
activist and
secretary,
Ghalib Memorial
Movement.Danseuse
Uma Sharma will
begin the first
day of the event
today with a
candle-light
procession from
Town Hall,
Chandni Chowk to
the Gali
Qasimjan haveli
of Mirza Ghalib.
The procession
will conclude at
Ghalib’s haveli
where Gulzar
Dehlvi, Pavan
Varma, Uma
Sharma and Ustad
Iqbal Ahmed Khan
will pay homage
on life and
times of Ghalib.
After this there
will be a
cultural evening
at Kucha Pati
Ram Haveli at
Kucha Pati Ram,
Bazaar Sita Ram
in old Delhi.
All through the
vintage selling
street of
Chandni Chowk
will be the
specially
created
platforms
highlighting the
attarwalas,
pankhewalas (fan
holders),
mashals
(torches),
huqqas (smoking
system) and
pandaans (betel
leaf boxes). The
‘nafeeri’ and
‘tasha’ (musical
instrument of
the Mughal era)
artistes will
accompany the
procession to
Ghalib's house
at Gali Qasimjan.
On day two of
the
Yadgar-e-Ghalib,
the main
attraction will
include Uma’s
unique ballet
“Shama bujhti
hei...” at the
India Islamic
Cultural Centre,
Lodi Road at
6.30 pm.
The function
will begin with
Pavan Varma
reading from his
book “Ghalib:
The man, The
times”.
According to
Firoz Bakht
Ahmed, the
glorious thing
about Ghalib is
that his poetry
never fitted
into watertight
compartments
because his
world in the
ghazals was too
vast and too
contradictory.
His poetry is
unique, not only
for the
intensity of
feelings but
also for the
exquisite charm
and profound
thoughts that
are part of his
beautiful world,
said Ahmed.
27 December 2009,
Tribune
ASI sure of
making history
ahead of
mega-sporting
event
Just 50 per cent
of restoration
work has been
completed at the
46 monuments,
which are
targeted to be
renovated before
the Commonwealth
Games 2010 (CWG),
yet the
Archeological
Survey of India
(ASI) is
confident of
accomplishing
the task by July
31, much ahead
of the
mega-sporting
event.
The
superintending
archeologist,
Delhi chapter of
ASI, K K
Mohammad stated,
“All monuments
would be ready
much before the
CWG and by the
deadline of July
31. Though,
after that we
have a buffet
period of three
months during
which any
unfinished work
and details
would be taken
care of.”
The heightened
spirit of ASI
officials
emerges from
this year’s
allocation of Rs
18 crore by the
union ministry
of culture that
is apparently
the highest-ever
funding received
by the
conservatory
department for
giving a
facelift to the
monuments.
Otherwise, the
funds have
always been
nominal, i.e.
within Rs 2-3
crore.
On the condition
of anonymity, a
senior ASI
official
remarked, “The
government has
to propel its
efforts for
conservation by
diverting more
funds towards
protection and
preservation of
monuments. You
need a strong
hand to conserve
and market
thereafter.
Thanks to CWG,
as never before,
we had so much
amounts, until
the latest Rs 18
crore under this
year’s planning
head.”
Adding that
culturally,
India treasures
one of the
richest and
diverse heritage
that the world
has ever known,
the official
feels the
attention given
to conservation
of historical
structures has
been very dismal
in India and
hence, China,
Italy and
England should
stand as modals
for the
government.
Nonetheless, the
ASI is
leveraging upon
the opportunity
to showcase the
city’s history
in all its
grandeur, while
the national
Capital’s
monumental
heritage is
basking in
revival spirit,
given the
augmented
attention.
The entire
uplifting
exercise
involves
excavation,
conservation,
landscaping,
illumination and
finally sprucing
up of the
monuments and
the two thrust
areas in the
whole plan are
arrangement of
toilets of
international
standards and
putting signage
before June.
The major
portion of the
work at the Lal
Quila, Purana
Quila, Qutub
Minar, Humayun
Tomb and
Safdarjung Tomb,
which are going
to be the focal
points of visit,
has been
finished.
“Among the
monuments, Qutub
Minar and
Humayun Tomb
have already
been spruced up
with renovated
entry-point,
ticket-house,
toilet and
drinking water
facilities. We
want to place
the best before
the visitors,”
informed
Mohammad.
Though in a
token manner,
the CWG would
surely act as a
platform to show
the world the
pluralistic
character of the
Indian history
through its
architectural
heritage and
monuments. “The
occasion is
going to be an
excellent
opportunity to
showcase our
rich heritage.
And with fewer
than 10 months
to go for the
mega-sporting
event, the work
is now being
taken up at one
stretch and with
a higher speed
instead of
phased manner,”
outlined
Mohammad.
Though there are
no doubts on the
potential of the
ASI, only time
would tell
whether it would
keep its word as
only half of the
work has been
finished since
it started in
March 2008.
28 December 2009,
Tribune
Ghalib’s
haveli to get
facelift
Conservationists
and poetry
lovers, marking
Urdu legend
Mirza Ghalib's
212th birth
anniversary, rue
the lack of
public
consciousness as
well as the
apathy on the
part of the
authorities
towards the
poet’s heritage
haveli.
Heritage lovers
were appalled by
the recent
incident in
which Mirza
Asadullah Khan
Ghalib's over
200-year-old
haveli in old
Delhi was rented
out to host a
wedding
reception.
A G K Menon,
convener of the
Delhi chapter of
INTACH which is
soon expected to
undertake
restoration work
of the haveli,
says while all
misuse of the
premise should
be dealt with
strictly
according to the
law, emphasis
should also be
put on
developing
heritage
consciousness.
"The Delhi
government has
asked us to
finalise a
proposal to
restore the
haveli of Ghalib
and put up a
museum there.
"But as part of
our programme to
increase a sense
of belonging
among people for
their cultural
heritage, we are
also planning
heritage walks
in Shahjahanabad,
which houses the
haveli," said
Menon.
Ghalib's haveli
is up for
restoration as
it is in
Shahjahanabad
that lies on the
Commonwealth
heritage route
and INTACH hopes
to finish the
work ahead of
the Games.
Ghalib's haveli
in Gali Qasim
Jaan of
Ballimaran is
not a heritage
monument and is
therefore not
protected by the
ASI.
Unhappy at
authorities'
"half-hearted"
approach towards
Ghalib, renowned
Urdu poet
Shahryar says
such treatment
of heritage
monuments is but
a reflection on
our society and
the lack of
public
consciousness on
this front.
"The sad part is
that in our
country not many
people give much
importance to
heritage.
"Ghalib has the
right to being
recognised as a
gem, you cannot
deny him his
right... but
more important
is to preserve
and spread his
poetry,"
Shahryar said.
He said the
18th-century
poet was
considered by
all literary
Indians as their
own. "He is a
revolutionary
poet who
represents
Indian tradition
truly," he says.
However, not all
believe that
Ghalib's
heritage has
been neglected,
as there are
other legends
who have fared
worse.
Aqeel Ahmed,
secretary of the
Ghalib Academy
that works to
promote his
literature, says
Ghalib is the
greatest
survivor of his
time, and his
heritage is by
far the best
looked after.
“We have had
several poetry
legends in
Indian
languages, but
Ghalib is one of
those who has
fared better.
The likes of
Kabirdas and
Surdas or even
Ghalib's
contemporaries
like Zauq and
Meer are even
less
remembered,” he
said.
Ahmed says while
one should
expect the
government and
the authorities
to undertake
their
responsibilities
towards heritage
sincerely, it is
also about how
the people react
towards issues
of their
cultural
heritage.
“The monuments
-- be it the
haveli or
Ghalib's tomb in
Nizamuddin --
are ultimately
in the midst of
people. It is
they who should
be concerned
towards the
legacy of their
ancestors," he
said.
Ghalib, arguably
one of the best
Urdu poets ever,
was born on
December 27,
1797, and was a
prominent
literary figure
during the reign
of the last
Mughal emperor
Bahadur Shah
Zafar-PTI.
28 December 2009,
Tribune
Road project
near heritage
site under DUAC
scanner
Close Eye
Arts panel
checks if bypass
has changed
alignment
A team of Delhi
Urban Arts
Commission (DUAC)
visited the site
of a "thrust
bed" being built
very near the
northeastern
edge of the
Salimgarh Fort
-- part of the
World Heritage
Site of Red Fort
Complex -- to
check if there
is any change in
alignment of a
Ring Road bypass
project under
construction.
The Public Works
Department (PWD)
of Delhi is
going ahead with
the project to
be completed
ahead of the
Commonwealth
Games 2010.
The
Archaeological
Survey of India
(ASI) had
earlier given
permission for
the project with
a rider that
"any road
expansion away
should be
carried out away
from the fort
wall."
The PWD is
allegedly
carrying out
work very near
the Fort wall,
deviating from
the originally
sanctioned
alignment.
Adding to the
problem from the
heritage point
of view is a
"thrust bed"
near the
northeastern
side of the
Salimgarh Fort
being
constructed by
the Railways for
the PWD.
Northern
Railway, which
owns the
embankment, is
building the
thrust bed for a
concrete box
that will
facilitate the
road.
There are huge
iron barricades
with
`Commonwealth
Games 2010' and
`Northern
Railways'
written over it.
"The DUAC team
visited the
place 10 days
ago and it was
indeed found
that work is
being carried
out very near
the Fort wall.
The commission
is actively
considering
taking action
against the
authorities
concerned,"
sources said.
However, PWD
officials
maintained that
there has been
no change in
alignment.
If there are
serious damages
to the wall, the
World Heritage
status might be
jeopardised.
The Delhi
government had
last year
by-passed the
Delhi Urban Arts
Commission for
this project.
Last month, the
ASI had taken up
the issue with
the PWD and work
was stopped on
the side towards
the Fort wall.
Incidentally,
work on the
project goes on
unhindered even
after the ASI
sent notices to
the authorities
after the Delhi
High Court
quashed a
committee that
sanctioned the
project from
heritage point
of view.
The bypass
project is aimed
at reducing
congestion on
Ring Road.
The situation
has turned
precarious after
the ASI's expert
committee was
declared illegal
by the High
Court last
month.
29 December 2009,
Hindustan Times
Karan Singh
releases book on
Sun Temples
Dr Karan Singh,
Chairman, Indian
Council for
Cultural
Relations, on
Sunday released
a book 'SURYA:
The God and His
Abode' at a
function in New
Delhi. The book,
authored by
Ranjan Kumar
Singh,
journalist and
film maker,
adulates the Sun
and projects
seven Sun
Temples with
stunning
photographs and
lively
narratives.
Sun is not only
the originator
of life, but is
also the future
of mankind. Its
spiritual value
apart, it is
equally
important for
our environment.
Solar energy is
the only
recourse that
the mankind has
in the world of
increasing
pollutants, said
Karan Singh.
Speaking on the
occasion, the
author of the
book Sri Ranjan
Kumar Singh
said, “Most of
us believe
Konark to be the
only sun temple,
whereas there
are others for
whom the sun
temple in their
vicinity is
second only to
the one at
Konark. Yet,
there are more
than a hundred
sun temples
dotting the
length and
breadth of the
country, while
there are
several others
spanning the
globe.
The book release
was followed by
the Shankar
Memorial Lecture
on 'The Sun and
the Culture' by
eminent scholar
Dr Syam Singh
Shashi.
The occasion
marked the Birth
Anniversary of
Late Shankar
Dayal Singh, a
distinguished
laureate and
parliamentarian.
Rajiv Pratap
Rudy, MP and DP
Yadav, former
Union Minister,
fondly
remembered Late
Shankar Dayal
Singh. Sanjay
Paswan, former
Union Minister;
spiritual guru
Km Archna,
educationist
Ashok Chauhan
and KM Singh,
Member, NDMA,
were also
present.
30 December 2009,
Pioneer
Eye on
Heritage City
status, Delhi
dresses up for
the games
The Heritage
City status for
the Capital that
seemed to be a
distant dream
till now, may
get some fillip
from work being
initiated on
several fronts
due to the
upcoming
Commonwealth
Games.
With many
monuments and
historical sites
getting a
facelift,
signage and
heritage-related
literature being
prepared and
heritage routes
that fall on the
Games venues
being spruced
up, the first
phase of
Heritage City
project is being
taken care of.
Officials of the
Indian National
Trust for Art
and Cultural
Heritage (INTACH),
a heritage
conservation
body that
conceptualized
and proposed the
Heritage City
project, feel
the Games will
facilitate the
project and by
the end of next
year the
foundation for
it will be laid.
A G K Menon,
Convenor (Delhi
Chapter) INTACH,
said, “Several
agencies are
working on
different
aspects like
conservation of
monuments,
streetscaping,
arrangement of
tourist buses
and preparation
of signage and
heritage-related
literature. By
the end of next
year the pace
will be set for
further
preparation and
when the smaller
pieces are taken
care of, the
jigsaw puzzle
will fit in.”
“Once the city
starts shaping
up and there is
a comprehensive
heritage
identity we will
request the
Ministry of
Culture to
propose Delhi
for the Heritage
City status
granted by the
UNESCO,” Menon
added.
The project
suffered a blow
initially as
various agencies
were involved
and there was
lack of
coordination.
The agencies
involved in the
project include
the Delhi
Development
Authority (DDA),
Municipal
Corporation of
Delhi (MCD),
Public Works
Department (PWD)
and
Archaeological
Survey of India
(ASI).
With the Games
approaching, the
ASI is
undertaking
large-scale
conservation
work on 46
monuments and
the Department
of Archaeology
will notify and
protect at least
92 monuments by
next September.
Out of the 92,
14 monuments
have been
identified for
conservation and
a fund of Rs 7.5
crore has been
sanctioned by
the Union
government to
the state
Department of
Archaeology,
Menon said. “The
heritage routes
have been
sanctioned, but
first the areas
near the Games
venues are being
spruced. The
route from Red
Fort to
Humayun’s Tomb
is being done on
a priority basis
with the ASI
working on
Purana Qila and
the MCD has
signed us up to
give Firozshah
Kotla a
facelift,” Menon
told Newsline.
The INTACH and
the DDA have
also signed a
MoU to develop
the Coronation
Park, proposed
as the starting
point of the
heritage route
that will go via
Red Fort to
Humayun’s Tomb.
The PWD has also
commenced work
on streetscaping
several
important roads
like Lodhi Road
and Bhairon
Road.
The Delhi
Tourism and
Transport
Development
Corporation,
meanwhile, has
approved the
‘hop-on,
hop-off’ buses
proposed for the
heritage routes
and is in the
process of
identifying
suitable buses
and estimating
the number of
buses required.
“We are
preparing
extensive
heritage-related
literature for
tourists who
will visit the
city during
Games. This will
be useful even
after the event
is over. The ten
heritage walks
that we had
proposed to the
Delhi government
have also been
approved,” Menon
added.
30 December 2009,
Indian Express
Mission
Clean Ganga may
fill GAP
Varanasi, from
where the Ganga
Action Plan
(GAP) was
launched a
quarter century
ago, will now
see a renewed
attempt to clean
up the sacred
river under the
World
Bank-funded
‘Mission Clean
Ganga’. The
first attempt
failed miserably
as pollution
increased to
alarming levels
despite massive
expenditure.
Environment
Minister Jairam
Ramesh will
visit Varanasi
on Wednesday to
take a
“first-hand
account” of the
ground realities
of different
ghats, sewage
treatment plants
(STPs) and
pumping stations
before holding
discussions with
Uttar Pradesh
Government
officials.
On Ramesh’s
one-day
itinerary is a
visit to the
famed Tulsi Ghat,
named after the
great poet
Tulsidas, RP
Ghat pumping
station, Varuna
confluence,
Dinapur STP
besides a “boat
trip from Assi
confluence to
Raj Ghat”.
“The Varanasi-Kannauj
stretch of the
Ganga is one of
the most
polluted
stretches. At
present, the
proposal to set
up a new 140-MLD
STP in Varanasi
awaits the
approval of the
Cabinet
Committee on
Economic
Affairs. Work is
in progress for
setting up two
more STPs under
the Jawaharlal
Nehru National
Urban Renewal
Mission. The
Government plans
to make Varanasi
an
eco-development
model of the
Ganga river
basin,” a senior
Environment
Ministry
official said.
Several studies
have indicated
that faecal
coliform
bacteria count
is 120 times
more than normal
as Ganga enters
Varanasi city
and 6,000 times
more at the
ghats. The level
of coliform
present in water
should be below
50 for drinking
purposes, less
than 500 for
bathing and
below 5,000 for
agricultural
use.
The water
quality
monitoring of
the Ganga,
carried out by
IIT, Kanpur,
BHEL and Patna
University, too
indicated that
the river’s
water quality
conforms to the
prescribed
standards in
terms of key
indicators like
Bio-chemical
Oxygen Demand (BOD)
and Dissolved
Oxygen (DO) at
most of the
locations except
in the Kannauj-Varanasi
stretch in Uttar
Pradesh.
The city of
Varanasi
including its
different ghats
and industries
generate 290
million litres
daily (MLD)
sewage, but
only102 MLD
sewage gets
treated in the
STPs with the
rest drained
untreated into
the Ganga.
While GAP-I and
GAP-II yielded
‘negligible’
results even
though an amount
of Rs 822 crore
was expended,
the new Mission
envisages an
expenditure of
Rs 15,000 crore
by 2020, the
deadline set to
ensure no
untreated
industrial
effluent and
municipal sewage
flows into the
river. As things
stand, of the
about 3000 mld
being generated
in the towns
along Ganga,
only 1,025 mld
is being
treated.
Unlike GAP, the
new Mission will
focus on river
front
development and
catchment area
treatment
besides STPs. A
comprehensive
river basin
management plan
is to be readied
by December 2010
and specific
action plans for
industrial
pollution will
be evolved by
January 31 next
year.
The World Bank
has assured a
financial
assistance of
US$ 1 billion
for the Mission
even as the
Centre has set
up a National
Ganga River
Basin Authority
under the
chairmanship of
the Prime
Minister with a
Rs 250-crore
budgetary
provision in the
current fiscal.
30 December 2009,
Pioneer
Roadmap:
heritage panel
draws up new
traffic plan
If a new traffic
management plan
around the
Municipal
Corporation of
Delhi’s (MCD)
Civic Centre
gets a nod from
the civic agency
and other
authorities, it
promises to add
a more holistic
touch to
vehicular
movement in the
Capital from
next year.
Commissioned to
draw up a
detailed traffic
management
scheme for the
area around the
Civic Centre,
the Indian
National Trust
for Art and
Cultural
Heritage (INTACH)
will make its
first
presentation on
Wednesday before
the MCD’s
Standing
Committee.
The traffic plan
will be in force
around the MCD’s
28-storey Civic
Centre and will
encompass
Connaught Place,
ITO and
Shahjahanabad.
If passed, the
plan will be
forwarded to the
United Traffic
and
Transportation
Infrastructure
(Planning and
Engineering)
Center and the
Delhi Urban Art
Commission for
final clearance
and
implementation.
It is expected
that once the
centre opens
sometime next
year — it is
coming up near
the New Delhi
railway station
— the swelling
vehicular
movement around
it will demand
strict
supervision.
Town planner and
Convenor, Delhi
Chapter, INTACH,
A G K Menon
said: “The
upcoming centre
is like a stone
thrown in a
pond. It will
send ripples in
the traffic
situation. So
far we have
always addressed
traffic problems
as a local
issue, building
flyovers,
subways and
multi-lane
signal free
roads as quick
solutions. But
now we need to
look at the
total city
network and work
out holistic
solutions.”
The scheme
proposes
exclusive lanes
for buses,
segregated
tracks for
cyclists and
non-motorised
vehicles and
user-friendly
pavements for
pedestrians.
“There needs to
be equitable
distribution of
road space.
According to
estimates, only
13 per cent of
the people in
Delhi travel by
cars, so why
should half the
road space be
given to them?
With dedicated
bus lanes and
tracks for non-motorised
vehicles and
pedestrians,
congestion in
private vehicle
lanes is
inevitable,”
Menon said.
“This congestion
should be seen
as a solution
and not a
problem. When
people see buses
zooming past
them, they will
want to switch
to public
transport.
People across
the world are
moving to public
transport.”
30 December 2009,
Indian Express
A young
brigade
nurturing and
saving the
greens
The Green
Brigade of
Block-I,
Chittranjan
Park, is adept
in gardening.
And what makes
it special is
that it
comprises all
young children.
They have been
well trained
into all the
finer aspects of
nurturing plants
and follow it
with precision.
They know it
all, how to
raise a
seedling, what
should be the
distance between
two seedlings,
the minute
aspects about
watering the
plants and the
process of
transplantation.
The brigade,
with around 30
members aged
between three
and 14, are
gardeners with a
purpose and
their mission is
to save the
environment.
Even their
T-shirts loudly
proclaim the
message, Save
the Environment,
Save the Lungs.
The Green
Brigade, that
came into
existence four
months back, is
the brainchild
of Barin Ganguly,
the president of
the block. In
addition to
instilling a
sense of
belongingness
for the plants
in these
children, he
also wanted them
to learn
leadership
qualities and
have a spirit of
ownership.
In these four
months, the
children have
transformed to
an extent. The
ones who used to
play football
inside the park
or cycle around
in the park
without
bothering about
the damage they
were causing to
the plants, now
stop others from
committing the
same mistake and
have turned into
the guardians of
the plants.
"After learning
the whole
process, we
realized the
amount of hard
work that goes
into raising one
plant. Earlier,
we used to spoil
the park," says
12-yearold Harsh
Sinha, one of
the group
leaders.
Every third
Saturday, when
the park is
closed for
cleaning, these
young members
turn into guards
and stop every
one from jumping
into the park
and hindering
the cleaning
process.
"Initially,
people did not
take us
seriously as we
are children but
now they do
listen to us and
we feel proud,"
says Navya Malik,
another group
captain.
The brigade is
divided into
five groups and
each group has a
captain. The
responsibility
of the captain
is to arrange
meetings in the
park, oversee
that the plants
are not being
damaged and
getting all the
nutrition on
time.
The groups are
called Phlox,
Stork, Petunia,
Calendula and
Dianthus and
each group named
after one flower
has planted the
same flower all
over the park.
For instance,
the Phlox group
has planted
phlox flowers
and is
responsible for
nurturing them.
"It is the
biggest pleasure
to see your
plant blooming,"
says Aryamaan
Bose with a
smile on his
face.
The Green
Brigade is not
dependent on the
elders for
upgrading their
knowledge.
They are doing
it themselves
because of a
sense of
attachment they
have developed
with every
sapling they
have sowed.
Debatrika Das
Gupta, who is
just eight years
old, has coined
a new slogan for
the group that
says, `Save
Plants, Save
Environment'. It
is incredible to
hear these words
from someone as
young as Das
Gupta and
amazing to see
the
understanding he
has about
plants. Now the
brigade members
are waiting for
the plants to
bloom and enjoy
seeing the
flowers dance in
the breeze.
GREEN GUIDANCE
The Green
Brigade is
working under
the guidance of
J. G. Bhowal,
Kalpana Bhowal
and Manjula
Sengupta. They
are the ones who
taught the
members the
technique of
checking the
manure, breaking
the crust of the
soil after
irrigation for
better aeration.
The next step
will be to make
a Green Brigade
for the entire
CR Park and
finally become
the part of the
Presidents'
Brigade. The
Green Brigade
celebrated Green
Day last month
and planted
trees in the J
Block park.
31 December 2009,
Hindustan Times
Power cables
to go down under
Delhi government
has asked the
power
distribution
companies to
remove the
overhead cables
from major roads
and some
congested areas.
Delhi's Finance
and Urban
Development
Minister Dr A.K.
Walia on
Wednesday said
the overhead
lines crossing
the main roads
were giving
Delhi a shabby
look.
"They are an
eyesore... not
in tune with our
vision of making
Delhi a world
class city,"
Walia said.
The issue of
conversion of
overhead power
lines into
underground ones
goes back a long
way.
For over a year
now discom BSES
has been seeking
funding from the
government for
laying
underground
power cables in
the Walled City,
Paharganj and
Karol Bagh.
To escape
funding of these
works, discoms
usually cite an
ancient
provision called
Rule 82 of the
Electricity Act,
which says that
the agency
proposing the
removal of
overhead wires
must bear the
cost of the
work.
But earlier this
month, the Delhi
Electricity
Regulatory
Commission
ordered the
discoms to carry
out expenditure
on their own to
remove the
overhead wires
at select areas.
Now, three
discoms are to
spend Rs 50
crore each in
the first phase
of work and turn
the overhead
wires
underground.
31 December 2009,
Hindustan Times
