Newsletter dated 17th August  2007: for distribution to all Delhi RWA Chiefs

Update on Resident Ward Committees: After preliminary presentations to the top leadership of the MCD, we have also had meetings with Dr. Harshvardhan of the BJP with a view to induce the leading party in the MCD to support the formation of RWC’s in each ward. In the meantime, the letter to all Councillors who have just been elected to the MCD has found favour among a number of councilors with one openly acknowledging that such a RWC is actively being considered by him. The concept of the RWC has been debated and now it is clear that  it is a necessary component of local self government. [Lately we have been informed that another NGO which works as an agency of Bhagidari has also started contacting RWAs with this idea. Kindly maintain your distance from agencies affiliated with government so that your independence is never compromised.] Our concept requires that the RWC be registered with the MCD as the sole consultative group within the ward. By doing this, we will ensure that there is no conflict between different RWAs and between groups within the same RWA. The next steps on this are awaited but in the meantime RWAs from Pitampura, Keshavpuram, Mehrauli are already poised to create their RWC’s. Other Ward RWAs are similarly requested to be in a state of readiness so that you waste no time once the proposal is moved in the MCD.

Meeting with LG:  A meeting led by Mr. Sanjay Kaul was held with the LG at his office to discuss various issues concerning the city and some specific concerns of delegation members. The delegation included URJA members from various areas: Mr. R.C. Kamboj from Rohini, Mr. Sushil Kumar from Dwarka, Mr. D.M. Narang from Rajendra Nagar, Mr. Atul Goyal from West Delhi URJA, Mr. Dhirendra Krishna from Safdarjung DDA Flats, Wing Commander J.S. Chadda from South Delhi URJA, Ms. Alpana Kishore of NDPA and Mr. Kuldip Singh, eminent town planner. The issues discussed included issues of commercialization per se and in relation to DDA colonies. The master Plan and its various aspects as well as the metro lines coming up everywhere in the city along with the HCBS etc were also taken up. Members pointed out that very little planning was still being done as far as the city was concerned and members urged the LG to allow for reasonable extensions that do not affect other residents and the community at large. The LG appreciated the considered view of URJA on the commercialization issue seeking a time frame for commercial establishments to move out of residential areas to areas that have been prepared for them.

Formalisation of Zonal Committees: Since the time the idea was mooted, many members have been short listed for URJA Zonal Committees. To formalize these Zonal Committees, it is proposed to call a Zonal meet in each of the seven zones and take things forward. Part of the agenda will also be to bring members up to date on proposed campaigns apart from formalizing the URJA Zonal Committee. The seven zonal committees will be divided along North, South, East, West, Central, Rohini and Dwarka zones. So far South Delhi has received the largest number of names, followed by East Delhi. Once again, if there are any members among yourselves who you would like to recommend for the zonal committee, you can please contact Mr. Atul Goyal or write and inform us. The schedule of Zonal Meetings will be informed to you separately by Zonal Coordinators.

Blueline menace and campaign by RWAs: A strong protest was launched by People’s Action in collaboration by URJA on the rampant deaths of commuters on a daily basis by public transport particularly the Blueline buses. Members collected at Jantar Mantar and carried out a candle light vigil by lighting 365 candles to represent the number of people that die every year according to various estimates due to public transport in Delhi. This protest forced the Government into a corner and of the five points that we had put forward the government grudgingly acted on two, namely the fitness checks and the license checks of drivers. However, the situation is far from better and that is why we asked for the dismissal or the resignation of the Transport Minister arguing that accountability must be fixed at the highest level and that sacking one driver or two will not end the malaise that has set in. The Jantar Mantar protest was followed up by a spirited protest on similar lines by North Delhi URJA members which was organsied at the Commercial Complex opposite Subhash Place Metro Station. Another protest was organsied at Gandhi Nagar in East Delhi while Kotla Mubarakpur RWA also protested the death of a local resident with a large gathering at the Defence Colony and Kotla crossing.

High Court order on DVB Privatisation: There has been a welcome development in the case filed before the Honb’le High Court of Delhi. In the petition filed by Gajendra Haldea, the HC judged that the Delhi Government had not attended to the issues raised in the CAG Report or the PAC Report as pertains to certain serious acts of omission committed during the DVB privatization process. As things stand, the HC has directed the Delhi Government to respond to the Court with an Action Taken Report [ATR] clarifying what steps they have taken to address these issues by the first week of September this year. You will remember that the PAC report had pointed out serious lacuna in the awarding of the contracts to private companies and sought a CBI enquiry in the matter. Coincidentally, you will also remember that on 14th July last year, we had passed a resolution at the IIC RWA Meeting seeking exactly the same. This is a vindication of our view in the matter and a great boost to our position.

All Party Meet on Power: People’s Action and URJA convened the first ever All Party Meet on power which involved all the major political parties in Delhi along with power engineer unions, legal experts, technocrats and experts to share opinions on the power scene in Delhi. The result were three crisply worded resolutions which unequivocally pronounced the DVB privatization as ‘suspect’ and a ‘total failure’ that  benefited private companies ‘at the cost of the state and the consumer’ and also castigated the DERC for failing to fulfill its mandate as a protector of consumer interests. It was uncanny that not a single member said anything positive about the entire issue – even the much touted power availability scenario was given a thumbs down with almost every member saying that they faced power cuts daily. Party members Dr. S.C. Vats of the Congress, Dr. Harshvardhan of BJP and Mr. A.B. Bardhan of the CPI attended the meeting. The meeting ended with an expression of support for the work URJA has been doing in federating RWAs across the city and Dr. Vats and Mr A.B. Bardhan formally congratulated all members of URJA for the good work being done by each of you.

Introduction of Time of Day [ToD] metering: A sinister attempt is being made to increase tariff through the clever methodology of introducing ToD – a mechanism that is used by industrial users and which is being passed on to retail customers to result in higher recoveries for the same power. It has been reported that the Power Secretary, in association with power companies using a study by TERI is trying to pass off a voluntary scheme to introduce ToD. We want to warn all RWAs that they must NOT allow any such trial in their areas as this will result in a campaign by the government to prove that this saves you money when in fact it only jacks up your bills: it is clear to anyone that residents will not change their life styles according to different slabs of tariff – it is impossible to expect that the average consumption will come down when you are paying a 50% premium rate for power at the peak hours – and if the minimum rate is not revised downwards, how is it mathematically possible to reduce bills!

Yamuna river bed occupation by Commonwealth Games Village: URJA members have responded with plausible anger at the proposed commonwealth games site which is planning to occupy the river bed for making permanent structures in preparation of the games. People’s Action along with other activists have argued that this is the largest water harvesting project in Delhi and sustains the water table providing us almost 50% of our drinking water. To concretize this flood plain would mean that Delhi would become even more dependent on external water sourcing and we have all seen the delays and problems connected with the Sonia Vihar plant. Magasaysay award winner Rajendra Singh has joined this campaign and many scholars and eminent activists are now maintaining a vigil on this site. RWAs all across Delhi are requested to visit the activists on the site on a daily basis to learn more about the seriousness of the issue and to give support to the activists. The campsite is behind Akshardham Temple and for details of visitation, you may please call NN Mishra of URJA East Delhi on 9891649000.

RWA Ekta Shakti Abhiyan: First phase roll-out Sept 1st - 7th, 2007 : In continuation of the campaign to strengthen the RWA movement, People’s Action has recommended that RWAs start action on the first point of the Ekta Shakti Abhiyan and start RWA membership drives in their areas  from 1st September to 7th September 2007 and target increase of membership by minimum 10% in this week from their localities. We had also advised RWAs to register the RWA if it is not yet so and ensure that each colony has only one RWA to avoid splintering. Similarly, we have also suggested that members ensure that elections are held in a formal fashion, after every tenure.

URJA Membership Renewal: Thank you for updating us on the changes in your RWA body. To help those who have not responded so far, attached please find a Registration cum Renewal Form for URJA membership. Kindly fill in the full details and either mail to the address above or Fax to 29831976 so that we can update our records for the current year.