Finally, DDA accepts mass maintenance due to persistent followup & media pressure

DDA SFS Pocket-1 in Sector-10 of Dwarka was plagued with problem of falling gritwash plaster from outer walls. These heavy chunks had fallen from outer wall and smashed windscreen of 2 cars and roof of one car last year. Residents escaped grievous injury by a whisker.

In April 2010, first complaint was lodged with DDA on poor quality of gritwash plaster. In subsequent months, meetings were held with Executive Engineer (WD-15), Superintending Engineer (CC-17) and finally with Chief Engineer (Dwarka). Orders were issued to WD-15 staff to survey and prepare repair estimates.

In the meantime, heavy showers during monsoon led to further damage to property. DDA was again requested to at least remove all loose and precariously hanging gritwash plaster pieces. Few pieces were removed, but pace was very slow. Sense of urgency was missing.

Help of media was taken and, thankfully, Hindustan Times, CityPlus and Dainik Jagran published stories with photographs highlighting danger to life & property of residents.

Vice Chairman (DDA) was also approached with compilation of follow-up letters, photographs & media reports. Ultimately, Chief Minister and Lt. Governor were also petitioned.

Year long follow-up finally paid off. In April 2011, DDA finally floated tender to remove all hanging gritwash plaster pieces, re-plastering of the same and also filling up of grooves between gritwash slabs throughout the pocket to strengthen outer wall plaster.

Persistence and media pressure ultimately yielded results. This is the first time in Dwarka that DDA would be doing mass scale repair and maintenance throughout the pocket.

As the precedent has been set, ALL affected DDA pockets in Dwarka should approach DDA to carry out repairs of faults commonly affecting most of the flats.

Property Tax Harassment by MCD in Dwarka

For last few weeks, residents of DDA pockets in Dwarka have been reportingreceipt of notices from MCD on non-payment of property tax for last 6 years since2004-05. Residents have been summoned to appear personally at MCD A&C office with documents and evidence of payments. It seems, MCD is sending such notices to EVERY flat owner of EVERY pocket / CGHS in Dwarka.


Except few, almost all residents have been paying their property taxes in time every year. In fact, many of residents have been enjoying early-payment rebates.
 
After MCD introduced online submission of property tax returns, many of residents shifted to online method. Online submission automatically allocates unique property id number to each resident address. But, instead of compiling such information and acting only on non-payment properties, MCD has issued notices to each and sundry accusing residents of default.

MCD, without doing their homework, is putting onus on residents to build their files. This is sheer harassment and waste of time of residents.

Metro MisInformation

Dwarka - Noida / Anand Vihar route is quite popular amongst Dwarkaites and carries maximum load on Delhi Metro. It remains busy throughout the day. Metro goes alternately to Noida and Anand Vihar respectively. On return route, metro alternately terminates at Dwarka station and goes inside Dwarka for different sectors. Routine announcement are made in metro terminating at Dwarka that all passengers bound for Dwarka sub city stations should get down at Dwarka Mor station as metro would not go inside Dwarka sub city, but terminate at Dwarka itself.

On Dwarka side, till some time ago, last station was Dwarka Sector-9. This was then extended to Dwarka Sector-21.

DMRC seems oblivious of this fact. Announcement being made in trains terminating at Dwarka still asks passengers to alight at Dwarka Mor and wait for next train to Dwarka sector-9. In fact, no metro signage shows sector-9 any more. Metro trains going inside Dwarka sub city show Sector-21 as last destination. This leads to confusion among passengers, specially among visitors to Dwarka.

DMRC is requsted to modify announcements immediately.