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Delhi L-G inaugurates third ‘Aarambh Library' in Dwarka

Delhi L-G inaugurates third ‘Aarambh Library' in Dwarka

Hans India28-07-2025
To foster a holistic reading culture among the students of Dwarka sub-city, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V. K. Saxena on Monday inaugurated an 'Aarambh Library' in Dwarka, to provide a good environment at a cost of Rs 1,000 a month.
The library with seating capacity for 65 students was thrown open on the first anniversary of the tragic incident in July 2024, where three students preparing for civil services lost their lives in flooded basement reading rooms in Rajinder Nagar.
Talking to media persons, Saxena said: 'Soon after the incident I had resolved to give affordable and good facilities to the students so that they make careers in the Capital and not lose their lives in the process. This initiative is a step in that direction.'
The Sector 16-B based Dwarka library-cum-reading room is the third Aarambh Library to be opened since January. The Aarambh network is poised for further expansion with upcoming libraries planned in Vikaspuri and Rohini.
'The two libraries will be inaugurated in the next 20 days,' Saxena said, adding that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi was hurt by the unfortunate incident in Old Rajender Nagar last July.
'Even PM Modi had insisted after the incident that we should make available good reading room facilities across the city,' he said, adding that a total of 10 libraries are targeted to be set up under the initiative.
Saxena said under the project the Delhi Development Authority is converting the less used community centres into libraries.
The Dwarka library marks the third state-of-the-art library-cum-reading room under the 'Aarambh' series, following the successful inauguration of the first library at Old Rajinder Nagar on January 5, 2025, and recently inaugurated second library at Adhchini Village on July 10, 2025.
Open to all 24x7, the library is equipped with modern facilities and can accommodate around 200 students across three 8-hour shifts, at a nominal monthly fee of Rs 1,000 per shift.
It also provides student-friendly environment with seamless Wi-Fi, secure lockers, CCTV surveillance, cafeteria, outdoor seating, open gymnasium, and running track.
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When the revised administrative approvals were further revised, the project cost went up again for reasons of increased water quantity, change in specification, design and drawings, duly incorporating additional items of work such as staff quarters, guesthouse, taxes and cost escalation. The proposals for revised administrative approvals were made with malicious intention to unduly favour the contracting agencies and wrongfully syphoning the amount from the public exchequer. There was absolutely no operations and maintenance of whatsoever nature, including periodical checks or inspection, pre- and post-monsoon inspection of the three barrages at any time. Chandrasekhar Rao directed continuous impounding of water in the barrages to their full capacity for lifting water through pump houses even though the barrages are typically diversion structures with low head, not as storage structures. This continuous impounding was a major cause of distress to the barrages. "The Chief Minister was pre-determined and bent upon constructing the barrage at Medigadda at his free choice. Authorities facilitated his decision". This was not the decision of the government but of individuals. The barrages, designed on permeable foundations, were utilised as storage structures which is against standard practice. Crucial studies on backwaters were not done at shifted locations. The quality control aspects were observed to be inadequate. The certificates of completion given for work at Medigadda were wrong, illegal and tainted with malice to do undue favour to contractors as work was not fully completed and defects detected. The commission recommended recovery of Rs 6.77 crore paid to WAPCOS as its report was "brushed aside". It said the project authorities and the work agencies were hand-in-glove and acted with concerted malicious intention in pursuit of their unfair and ulterior motive to unduly benefit and make unlawful gain from the project. At the cabinet meeting and media conference later, state irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy gave a power point presentation on the commission's report. He said the BRS government borrowed Rs 87,449 crore at high interest rates and low repayment tenures from non-banking financial institutions which had become a huge burden for the present government. The government was yet to repay Rs 1.05 lakh as principal and interest. The minister recalled that then Union mInister for water resource, Uma Bharti, had communicated to the state government about Union government's willingness to give hydrology clearance for Pranahita-Chevella link project as 205 thousand million cubic feet (TMC ft) water which was more than the required 180 TMC ft was available at Tummidihatti. But, Chandrasekhar Rao had his own way. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.

Masterstroke by Modi government as India plans to launch Rs 200000000000 mission to help exporters, Donald Trump's tariffs will now be...
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Masterstroke by Modi government as India plans to launch Rs 200000000000 mission to help exporters, Donald Trump's tariffs will now be...

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