The Hindu : Front Page : A new deal now for Capital's senior citizens

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 15, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

A new deal now for Capital's senior citizens

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Senior Citizens' Centres mandatory for all colonies; fresh steps also to benefit schools and children

NEW DELHI: Senior citizens' centres would be mandatory in all colonies and cooperative group housing societies of the Capital from now on; all schools would be allowed to run two shifts a day and also to operate coaching centres and extra classes from their premises; fitness centres and gymnasia would be allowed under mixed land use in all residential areas; and a provision of 10 per cent land as water body would be mandatory on all vacant lands and green areas over one hectare in order to recharge the ground water table.

All these path-breaking decisions were taken by the five-member Board of Enquiry set up to consider suggestions and objections to the Master Plan for Delhi-2021 at its meeting here on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by Delhi Development Authority Vice-Chairman Dinesh Rai, DDA Member-Engineering A. K. Sain, Commissioner (Planning) A. K. Jain, and Municipal Councillor Virender Kasana. The only one not present was the Municipal Commissioner, A. K. Nigam.

Though none of these proposals had figured in the deliberations earlier, they were sought to be incorporated by various members of the Board in view of their importance.

Mr. Kasana later said that for the benefit of senior citizens it was decided that while the earlier Master Plans had largely ignored them, it would be apt to have at least 100 square metres of covered area set aside in all colonies for creating Senior Citizens' Centres which would have a library, a reading room and carom facility. The existing colonies too would be allowed to obtain no-objection certificates from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi or the local body for setting them up.

The area of primary schools was increased from 2,000 square metres to 4,000 square metres while for higher secondary schools it was raised from 1.5 acres to 2 acres so that all children have access to playgrounds.

Since a large number of Delhi students are known to be travelling to satellite townships for coaching classes, the Board decided to allow two shifts in all the schools so that they are able to open coaching centres and hold extra classes. However, for this purpose an NOC from the Education Dept. of the Delhi Govt. would have to be obtained.

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