Latest news with #SanchitKhanna
Hindustan Times
14 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Delhi govt renews push to rename Najafgarh drain as Sahibi river
Delhi's Najafgarh drain may soon be renamed the 'Sahibi river', with the city government submitting a fresh proposal to the State Names Authority (SNA) under the urban development department. The move is part of efforts to raise awareness about the historical river, which once flowed along the same path that is now occupied by the drain. The Sahibi River originates in Rajasthan, flows through Haryana, and enters Delhi before merging with the Yamuna. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo) The Sahibi River originates in Rajasthan, flows through Haryana, and enters Delhi before merging with the Yamuna. Within Delhi, its course is currently known as the Najafgarh drain. As part of a recent submission to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Delhi government attached digitised survey maps from 1975-76 showing the Sahibi river's original course through the Capital, now channelled as a stormwater drain. The government said a similar renaming proposal was submitted last year, but was returned by the SNA, which asked the city to first obtain concurrence from the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA). A revised proposal is now under review. Efforts to rejuvenate the channel are already underway, officials said, but rebranding it as a river is key to public engagement. 'To generate people's support, it necessitates avoiding use of the word 'drain/nala', due to the stigma and misconception associated with it—that it symbolises a channel carrying dirty water. Therefore, it's prudent to officially name or rename the channel as Sahibi River,' the Delhi government said in its NGT submission dated May 24 and uploaded on June 26. Manu Bhatnagar, principal director of the natural heritage division at the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), said the Sahibi was originally a rain-fed river, which over the past two centuries, steadily shrunk due to encroachments and agricultural expansion. 'Earlier, the water table was high, and the river sustained itself year-round. Over time, it narrowed, and parts dried up—particularly near Dharuhera in Haryana, where much of the riverbed was absorbed by farmland,' he said. 'The river merges with outfall drain number 8 in Haryana and flows toward the Dhansa Barrage and Najafgarh lake. In that sense, Najafgarh lake forms part of the Sahibi river system, with the river feeding it upstream. Downstream of the lake, the channel was once known as the Sahibi nallah—today, it exists as the Najafgarh drain,' he said. Historical records also trace the evolution of the river's identity. An 1807 Survey of India map labels it 'Saabi nala'. By 1865, the British had excavated a channel from Najafgarh lake to Wazirabad to boost cultivation, and the channel began to be referred to as the Najafgarh drain. The 1883 Gazetteer, Bhatnagar added, described the Sahibi nallah as 'a series of water-filled ditches'. The NGT is hearing a petition filed by Prakash Yadav, a resident of Kharkhara village in Haryana, who alleged that the Sahibi river is being neglected and filled with sewage, causing overflow into nearby farmland. The tribunal has sought reports from both Delhi and Haryana on actions taken for the river's restoration and the protection of surrounding areas. The Delhi SNA, which examines all name change proposals, comprises 29 members, including four MLAs and officials from various state departments. It is typically chaired by the chief minister, with the chief secretary as vice-chair. Proposals are first vetted by a subcommittee led by the principal secretary (urban development) before being placed before the SNA for final consideration. In February last year, the NGT had asked the Delhi government to clarify whether the Najafgarh drain was ever historically known as the Sahibi river and whether renaming it could aid its revival.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Locked doors and empty rooms: Delhi's one-stop centres are falling apart
At first glance, the gate on Jail Road near Central Jail No. 1 looks like any other—wide, a little worn, bearing a small blue board that reads 'Nirmal Chhaya Complex.' It's easily missed in the swirl of west Delhi's traffic unless you know exactly what to look for. But this nondescript entrance leads to one of the city's One Stop Centres (OSC)—facilities meant to be sanctuaries for women in distress, offering immediate access to legal aid, counselling, shelter, and support under one roof. The one stop centre at Lok Nayak Hospital is an exception as it boasts a clean, fully equipped shelter with AC rooms, on-site staff housing, and a dedicated vehicle. (Sanchit Khanna/HT photo) But finding it isn't easy. Entry to the Tihar Prison Complex, where this west district OSC is located, is tightly controlled. No one is allowed in without valid identification. For a woman fleeing a violent home, that single requirement can become a wall too high to scale. 'I couldn't find the place at all,' said a woman who eventually made it to the centre. 'I had to call 181 to get the exact location.' Launched in November 2019, OSCs were designed to assist women facing gender-based violence—whether domestic, sexual, or psychological—under a single roof. After Rekha Gupta took over as Delhi's chief minister in February, she repeatedly highlighted the mission of these centres and promised to set up 11 more, one in each district. But ground reports reveal a collapsing system plagued by apathy and lack of funding. In the sweltering heat, women who reach these supposed 'safe havens' are often met with stifling rooms lacking even the most basic amenities—no running water, no functioning fans or coolers, and most critically, no counsellors. Across multiple OSCs, core services such as police assistance and legal aid are inconsistently available, directly violating guidelines set by the ministry of women and child development. These guidelines mandate a full-time counsellor, police officer, legal aid provider, and round-the-clock infrastructure including temporary shelter, first aid, and a 24-hour helpline. On paper, these centres promise immediate, comprehensive assistance. In reality, they themselves are barely surviving. BJRM Hospital: Empty chairs, broken coolers The One Stop Centre at Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial (BJRM) Hospital paints a bleak picture. A rusting iron gate leads to a rundown facility where signs of neglect are hard to miss. On the left, two single beds and a few chairs sit beside a broken cooler. On the right, a helper logs visitor names in a register. The rooms marked 'Legal Aid' and 'Counsellor' are locked or unstaffed. The only occupied room is that of the centre administrator, who handles every case alone. There is no case worker—a key role for managing and following up on complaints. Officials said the post has been vacant for over five months. The police official designated there rarely visits, and a five-bed temporary shelter, once operational, was shut last year due to a lack of funds. 'The AC doesn't work, the computer is dead, and a vehicle for the centre was never provided,' said a staff member who requested anonymity. 'Even basic supplies like food, clothing, and hygiene kits are unavailable.' The Shahdara OSC, within the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences campus, has better staffing, but again chronic underfunding chokes services. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo) One letter dated June 12, 2023, sent to the district magistrate's office reads: 'The OSC is not receiving any supplies—no kitchen groceries, no water, no items for kids. How do we feed the victims?' The administrator, Kusum (last name withheld), now handles nearly every task. During a recent visit, HT witnessed Kusum and one multi-tasking staff member managing the entire centre. A 21-year-old woman had come seeking help after her husband and brother-in-law took away her one-month-old breastfed baby. With no police official present, Kusum had to call the police and the child welfare committee repeatedly for over 24 hours before the child was returned and legal proceedings initiated. Kusum declined to comment. But another staffer said: 'She manages most cases alone. But this is not how these centres are supposed to function.' Despite more than 50 letters sent over six years outlining these deficiencies, officials said little action has followed. Tihar: Better infrastructure, but glaring gaps The OSC inside the Tihar prison complex appears marginally better. It has two rooms for officials, a waiting area for victims, and a functional five-bed shelter. Unlike BJRM, most mandated staff are present. But even here, the absence of counsellors looms large. Since July last year, after the Delhi Commission for Women withdrew their services, not one OSC has had a dedicated counsellor on site. Officials said the absence of dedicated infrastructure continues to hamper daily operations. Calls to the 181 women's helpline, for example, are diverted to the personal mobile phones of OSC administrators—day and night. 'They're expected to answer calls round the clock without a dedicated control room. It's unsustainable,' said one official. While this centre has legal and police officers posted, officials said even the designated female cop struggles to coordinate with the local police station. 'She's always calling for updates, and they dodge her. They drop victims here and move on,' the official said. In one case, a girl brought to the OSC for five days - as mandated for the shelter home - but the police officer did not come to take her statement or follow her case for 10 days. Adding to the strain, three multi-tasking staff posts remain vacant. The security guard has taken over cooking duties. For over a year, the centre has operated without internet. MTNL and broadband bills have not been paid, forcing staff to use personal phone hotspots to send official emails. There's no printer either—not at this OSC, or BJRM. A letter to the SDM Patel Nagar dated October 15, 2023, noted: 'The internet has been disconnected for many days, causing major problems in running the centre.' Another dated December 30 highlighted the vacant staff posts due to resignation, absenteeism, or misconduct. 'Due to lack of sufficient staff, it is very difficult to provide efficient services to the victims,' it said. Shahdara: Adequate staff, no funds The Shahdara OSC, located within the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), has better staffing, but again chronic underfunding chokes services. 'There is no AC in any room, not even the administrator's office,' said one official. 'No toys for kids, no TV for victims. Not even basic comfort.' Officials said bills remain unpaid for months, affecting food procurement, maintenance, and essentials for victims. Although staff salaries have become more regular, the centre still lacks a dedicated vehicle or residential quarters for administrators. Requests to the DM and SDM, officials said, have gone unanswered. Lok Nayak: A rare model In contrast, the OSC at Lok Nayak Hospital stands out as a rare exception. It has a clean, well-kept nine-bed shelter with air conditioning in all rooms, a dedicated vehicle, on-site administrator housing, and all required officials present. Legal aid, police assistance, case workers, and IT support were all active during HT's visit. A children's play area with toys, a television, and clean bedding gave the space a humane touch missing at most other centres. 'There is no major problem here except the absence of counsellors, which is common across Delhi,' said an official. 'This is how all centres should function. Everything is under one roof.' A government official, on condition of anonymity, said that they are aware of the shortcomings at the centres but said that the district magistrates are responsible for operations and upkeep of the OSCs. 'The Women and Child Development department releases the funds to the districts after which the DMs are expected to take care of the operations of the OSCs. We are examining the shortcomings,' he said. Yet, that roof is crumbling across most of the city. Despite official claims and public promises, Delhi's OSC network reveals a system of uneven delivery, where centres meant to be safe spaces for vulnerable women are often neither safe nor functional. In place of trained support staff, survivors find locked doors, empty rooms, and administrators left to fight systemic apathy on their own.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
PWD to repair two west Delhi flyovers
The Public Works Department (PWD) on June 21 invited bids to repair the Raja Garden flyover and the Shadipur flyover in west Delhi at a cost of ₹ 8.8 crore. The Raja Garden flyover opened in 2001 and the Shadipur flyover in 1971, and neither has undergone major repairs since construction. PWD said the elastomeric bearing connecting the slabs with the base and the expansion joints need to be replaced. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo) The Raja Garden flyover connects Raja Garden to Mayapuri and repairs on it are likely to cost ₹ 4.9 crore. The second flyover connects Moti Nagar to Shadipur and its repairs would cost ₹ 3.9 crore. PWD said repairs are expected to take place in phases over 15 months. 'These projects will include the repair of spalled and honeycomb concrete in the core structure as well the replacement of the elastomeric bearing connecting the slabs with the base. We will also strengthen the girders and repair the expansion joints,' said a PWD official. PWD officials said that concrete expands and contracts with temperature changes and tends to develop cracks. An expansion joint is a small gap that provides space for the concrete to expand and contract. It is an iron joint placed between concrete slabs to prevent damage to concrete and absorb vibrations. 'After the concrete layer is removed, the deck surface will be closely inspected for signs of distress such as cracks, pockets of loose or honeycombed concrete. Then it will be thoroughly cleaned with special efforts to remove any loose material. Expansion joints and spouts will be removed carefully so that deck concrete is not damaged and reinforcement shall be cleaned thoroughly,' the official said. Honeycombing of the concrete refers to the formation of voids or air pockets in concrete, resembling a honeycomb-like structure, due to poor filling of the formwork. Spalling of the concrete refers to flaking of concrete from a larger mass, often caused by internal pressure from rusting and freeze-thaw cycles. In March, the Delhi government had ordered a comprehensive survey of all 102 flyovers in the city to identify problems. Several flyovers were built in the decade in the run up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games and are in need of repairs. Some of the flyovers that have been intensively repaired in the last two years include those in Shahdara, Loni Road, Nangloi, Chirag Delhi, Okhla, Janak Setu in New Delhi, and Pul Mithai. According to the March 3 order, PWD deployed five teams to inspect the flyovers under the oversight of the departmental special secretary. The government has allocated more than ₹ 3,800 crore in the recent state budget to improve and develop roads and bridges in the city. Mehar Chand a frequent commuter on West Delhi corridor said that on the ring road while coming from Mayapuri toward Punjabi Bagh, driving down on Raja Garden flyover there is frequent water logging problem even after light rain because of low lying area between both flyovers and lack of efficient water drain. Similarly, Vinay Gujela, a local resident said that the Raja Garden flyover also suffers from encroachment which must be cleared.. ' Why have agencies allowed food carts to stand on road. these encroachers are affecting the traffic flow and they also harass common people on road.'
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Delhi zoo readies monsoon action plan to protect animals
The National Zoological Park has prepared a comprehensive monsoon action plan to ensure no water logging incidents are reported both inside and outside enclosures, particularly during heavy rainfall spells, officials said on Sunday. Deer at Delhi Zoo on June 9. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo) The zoo said the plan was finalised a few weeks ago and many changes have been implemented, including repairing critical infrastructure, desilting and clearing drainage lines, procuring additional pumps, deploying additional manpower and identifying areas prone to waterlogging. 'All our pumps have been repaired and tested. We have ordered new pumps, too,' said Delhi zoo director Sanjeet Kumar. Additional manpower will mean that staff can be deployed 24x7 to pump out water, he added. 'The goal is to pump out water at the same time it rains heavily,' Kumar said, adding that enclosures have been identified where waterlogging was a concern. This includes enclosures of herbivores, primarily deer. 'Among the other measures are cleaning all moats and drainage channels, constructing new rain sheds and repairing of existing ones. We have also created soil mounds in our herbivore enclosures to give animals higher ground in case of flooding,' Kumar said. He said waterproof sheets were being used in the kraal and feeding platforms for animals. Zoo staff will be equipped with monsoon gear such as gum boots, umbrellas and torches. 'Essential medicine for the monsoon season has also been procured,' he said. Last year, there was a two-day-long power cut at the zoo towards the end of June after waterlogging damaged a transformer. Several animal enclosures were also waterlogged last year. Typically, the monsoon reaches Delhi on June 27 but its onset is expected on June 24 this year. 'The goal is to pump out water immediately to prevent any such issues again,' Kumar said. The zoo will hold regular internal reviews and coordinate with local administration to prevent crises. The Delhi Zoo is home to more than 1,100 animals from 95 species, including endangered ones such as the Asiatic lion, one-horned rhinoceros, and Indian wolf. It opened in 1959 and is spread across 176 acres. HT recently reported how the zoo is preparing for a multi-crore revamp focused on better animal habitats and visitor facilities such as glass walls and natural enclosures.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Monsoon to arrive in Delhi on June 24
With the advancing southwest monsoon expected to hit Delhi on Tuesday, the city witnessed pleasant weather on Sunday, retaining a 'satisfactory' air quality for a fifth consecutive day. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also issued a yellow alert for Monday and Tuesday, predicting light to moderate rain. The maximum temperature in Delhi stood at 36.2 degrees Celsius (°C) on Sunday. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo) According to IMD, monsoon has advanced and covered most parts of Himachal Pradesh, entire Ladakh and Kashmir, most parts of Jammu and some parts of Punjab. The onset in the city is likely by Tuesday — three days ahead of the normal date of June 27. Notably, the monsoon arrived on June 28 last year, with over 228mm recorded in a single day. In 2023, it reached Delhi on June 25. 'Conditions are favourable for the southwest monsoon to advance over remaining parts of North Arabian Sea, some more parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, some parts of Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, remaining parts of west Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu during next two days,' the IMD said in a statement. Despite the overcast skies on Sunday, Delhi failed to see any rain till the evening. The maximum temperature stood at 36.2 degrees Celsius (°C), which was two degrees below normal and down from 37.3°C a day earlier. Relative humidity remained high throughout the day – oscillating between 65% and 83%. This kept the thermal discomfort high too. IMD data showed Delhi's heat index (HI) or 'real feel' temperature at 47.5°C at 5:30pm, primarily due to a relative humidity of 70% at the time. Heat index is a measure of how hot it actually feels to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature. Delhi's wet-bulb temperature, another indicator of thermal discomfort, stood at 29.51°C. A wet bulb reading above 32°C or high can significantly impair the human body's ability to cool itself, while 35°C is considered the theoretical limit for survival. Delhi's minimum temperature stood at 28.4°C on Sunday. The IMD has forecast a cooler day on Monday with the maximum likely hovering around 33-35°C and minimum at 26-28°C. Cleanest spell this year Meanwhile, isolated rain spells over the last few days have allowed pollutants in the Capital to settle. The air quality index (AQI) on Sunday — aided by overcast skies and consistent winds — stood at 92 (satisfactory) at 4pm. This was marginally higher than 85 (satisfactory) on Saturday. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said Ozone (O3) was the lead pollutant on Sunday, as compared to both PM10 and O3 on Saturday. This is the cleanest spell Delhi is enjoying so far this year. Delhi has only recorded seven satisfactory air days so far this year, five of which have occurred during this spell. The CPCB classifies AQI between 0 and 50 as 'good', between 51 and 100 as 'satisfactory', between 101 and 200 as 'moderate', between 201 and 300 as 'poor', between 301 and 400 as 'very poor', and over 400 as 'severe'. Last year, Delhi recorded 27 consecutive 'satisfactory' air days between June 28 and August 23, making it the longest streak of satisfactory days in the city since 2020, when a record streak of 51 'satisfactory' days was seen between July 16 and September 4. Punjabi Bagh emerged as the cleanest hot spot in the city on Sunday, logging an AQI of 62 — the lowest among all major locations. Meanwhile, Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa lauded the efforts of the Delhi government to fight air pollution. 'This progress is the result of continuous, on-ground action and strict enforcement. In the last 48 hours alone, 218 end-of-life vehicles were impounded and 11,157 pollution challans issued across the city. These are part of Delhi's zero-tolerance approach to air polluters,' Sirsa said.
