Newsletter dated 21st  March 2006 : for distribution to all Delhi RWA Chiefs

Review of decisions taken at the All-Delhi Residents Conference of 19th February: The Residents Conference spent a larger amount of time debating the issue of illegal constructions and commercialisation in residential areas. URJA had invited members of the traders community to explain their position on the basis that they were residents of Delhi first before being traders or shop-owners. URJA agrees with the position that all such persons involved in trade and retail are themselves residents of various different colonies. They may have a shop in South Extension and may be residents of Green Park and as such were very much a part of the body of RWAs of the city. It was also on this basis that the request of the traders association to become members of URJA was felt unnecessary.

People’s Action President, Sanjay Kaul has cautioned that the RWAs must not be at loggerheads with Retailers or the Traders on the basis of the recent court orders. He held that while the orders of the Supreme Court were non-negotiable, it was imperative to understand the problems of the retailers and press the government to provide for a reasonable solution to the issue. “Otherwise,” he said,” this problem will reappear again in a six months time.”

Mr.Sanjay Kaul has also wanted to communicate this message:  “We have to understand that the abnormal rise in commercialisation of residential areas, illegal encroachment or constructions are all symptoms of the same malaise – and the disease is not the people, but the inadequate spaces for expansion of business and homes as families grow within the city.”

“Let us not attack the symptoms, but aim for the disease: the failure is of the Government to have not provided for the aspirations of such people by not making enough or affordable market spaces for such residents. It is the also the failure of a government that there are not enough reasonably priced options for people to invest within the city which results in residents choosing to extend their present living spaces. Let us not waste energy in hurting our co-citizens, rather let us put pressure on the government to provide better facilities for all of us.”

“A number of us are salaried employed in various government or private companies and do not subsist on retailing or trading. That does not mean we consider the needs of such of our brother citizens to provide for their family as unnecessary. We must start behaving like a common group of people with common aspirations and join hands in every endeavour.”

“This problem has a solution. We have provided that solution to the trade and retailers and to the government. We have asked the Government to provide for the resettlement and rehabilitation of affected retailers and the problem will be solved with the active support of the very retailers that are being vilified today. All those who respond negatively to this proposal on the basis that this would amount to rewarding illegality, must first consider the points above – i.e  why did an ordinary man have to find an illegal way to make ends meet? I imagine that anyone who is genuinely interested in pursuing the case of removal of commercial operations from residential areas would welcome a proposal where such activities are relocated with the help of the Government. Let us not seek temporary solutions to problems – let us deal with them in a mature fashion. Delhi’s middle classes have suffered too long due to this reason, let us not allow any thing to divide us further. The solution is available – the will to pressurise the government is required. I urge you to join with your retailer co-citizens and force the Government to improve governance to the level where every citizen’s aspirations are provided within the city’s current and future planning. That alone makes a city great – merely holding seminars and 15-day commonwealth games does not.”

Issue of 50% surcharge on account of theft in power tariff: This issue was actively debated and amid consensual agreement it was decided by representatives of all RWAs that this surcharge is bad in theory and practice, that it is indefensible that honest bill payers are being made to pay for those who do not and it was resolved by consensus to resist this malpractice. Consequently, RWAs decided that they would react by paying only 50% of their bills if the power tariff was not amended to a level commensurate with actual costs of electricity due from a bill payer.

Protest begins in East Delhi: This campaign has started with a public meeting on the issue at Vishwas Nagar in East Delhi organised by the local RWA  on the 19th March, 06  which has found tremendous response in the locality. Residents of Vishwas Nagar have resolved to pay only half their bills from April as a mark of protest against this blatantly unfair practice. RWAs around the city are organising similar protest meets within their localities and all those yet to fix a date please call the coordinator of the campaign: Pankaj Gupta on 9810017868 to fix the same in the coming days.

Campaign material attached herewith: There is a specially drafted hand-out attached in English and Hindi for you to place your RWA contacts in the right hand bottom, photocopy and distribute in your colony. Please ensure that these are delivered to each and every resident of your areas so that they are aware of the seriousness of the situation.

Appeal in High Court against the Justice Nandrajog ruling: The Hon’ble double bench has dismissed the appeal that was made earlier by Mr. Jindal with support from URJA  and People’s Action. We have since then decided to continue the struggle and approach the Supreme Court. More details on this will be shared with you as and when there are further developments.

URJA Coordination Office and Representative: URJA has since added one more representative to its list of coordinators and one more office. CR Park RWA has offered its office for use as URJA coordination office. Thanks are due to Mr. P.K. Roy and Mr S. Ganguly of  the RWA for their proactive offer. Pl. note URJA coordination office for CR Park area:  I-1597, Chittaranjan Park, New Delhi-19. Tel: 26277561

URJA Coordinator for South Delhi : Lado Sarai - Saket area:
K. Vijay Raghaven,
62, DDA Flats, Lado Sarai,
New Delhi-30