PWD’s bridge plan leaves a Vasant Kunj lake high and dry

Reason: the project work is choking Neela Hauz, a freshwater body in the area, with construction material, waste and negligence reducing it to a dump.

Having earlier lost a waterbody to malls near Africa Avenue, Vasant Kunj residents now plan to form a pressure group and write to the Chief Secretary, who also heads a monitoring committee on freshwater bodies in Delhi.

“Construction waste is dumped into and around Neela Hauz. Not only has the waterbody been partially filled up, the waste dumped around will prevent rainwater from flowing in,” resident Jyoti Sharma said. “Water will, thus, reduce further. Also, construction workers are moving into surrounding forest area to bathe and rest, and big machines are parked there. This will destroy the green cover.”

Sharma said residents have decided to form a Citizens Group for Protection of Neela Hauz. “We cannot stop the flyover project but we can try and prevent any permanent damage to the waterbody and the forest area,” she said. “We will act as a vigilance group to check construction work at the site.

“We will also write to the Chief Secretary on the issue.”

The PWD, meanwhile, says waste going into the lake is part of an initial stage. “We are constructing only two piers for the bridge and malba in the water will be dredged out,” PWD engineer-in-chief R Subramanian said.

Admitting that waste dumped in will affect the lake’s capacity to fill this monsoon, Subramanian said, “No permanent harm will come to the waterbody.”

In 2002, the High Court had directed the DDA vice-chairman to visit the waterbody and suggest measures for its upkeep. The DDA vice-chairman is a member of the monitoring committee on freshwater bodies.

Vinod Jain, Founder Chairman, NGO Tapas, who appealed against the PWD project in 2000, said: “PWD wanted to fill the water up the waterbody and build a road. But the court issued a stay in 2002 and ruled a bridge could be built instead.”

Diwan Singh, from Natural Heritage First, said: “There were at least 1,500 waterbodies in Delhi 30 years ago. Today, as per government affidavits, we are left with just 629. There used to be a waterbody in Vasant Kunj, where the Ambience Mall is now built.”