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Hitting the highway

Following the removal of slums from the banks of the Yamuna in recent days and weeks, there has been a marked increase in the number of such settlements along National Highway-24 close to the Delhi Development Authority's Sanjay Park in East Delhi. Whether or not this is because some slum dwellers have relocated themselves on this poorly monitored section is a matter of speculation, but the increase in inhabitation along the highway is definitely going to affect its widening.

Though the Delhi Government had long back approved the proposal for widening NH-24, the plans are yet to translate into action on the ground. A reason being cited for the delay is that there is paucity of land for relocation and rehabilitation of the thousands of slum dwellers who live on both sides of the highway from the Mother Dairy underpass to Retreat Apartments.

While initially the move to relocate the slum dwellers was stalled by politicians, later a plan was drawn up for rehabilitating the eligible dwellers in marked sites. But after the recent legislation passed by the Centre under which all sealing and demolition activities have virtually come to an end, officials are also shy of removing the slum clusters lining the highway.

As such, the project -- for which funds had been sanctioned last year and which is scheduled for completion in 2008 -- has already started running behind schedule. However, officials who are at present not keen to be known for removal of slum clusters insist that despite all the hurdles the project will be completed ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2010. The only difference in the situation now, they add, is that the interests of all concerned, including the slum dwellers, will be safeguarded.

-- Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Claiming credit

With the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre managing to get the Bill seeking a one-year moratorium on sealing and demolition drives in the Capital passed in Parliament unanimously, both the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi are trying hard to claim credit for giving the much-needed relief to the residents of the city.

Interestingly, in the post-Bill period, the entire atmosphere has changed at the MCD headquarters in Town Hall. Earlier during the twin drives, while the Congress Councillors were visiting Town Hall only to carry out important works to evade angry residents, BJP Councillors were seen lambasting their ruling counterparts for failing to safeguard the interests of the people of Delhi.

However, the mood at the MCD headquarters changed after the Bill was passed with both the Congress and BJP Councillors celebrating by distributing sweats and putting up posters across the city thanking their "political mentors" for stopping the twin drives. But the real reprieve for members of both the parties, particularly for the Congress, is that they will not have to face the public wrath on the issue in the municipal polls scheduled for early next year.

"The one-year moratorium will solve our purpose. People have heaved a sigh of relief over the stoppage of the twin drives and it is almost certain that all illegal shops and houses will be regularised. Barring a few areas in the city where people have opposed the new Bill, a majority of the residents are happy. We hope that this issue will not have a negative impact on our poll prospects," said a senior Congress Councillor.

-- Sandeep Joshi

College turns 75

Regarded as one of the premier institutions in the field of home science in all of South Asia, Lady Irwin College on Sikandra Road will be celebrating its platinum jubilee next year. The grand old college offers graduate, postgraduate, doctoral and post-doctoral programmes in five areas of specialisation.

Young women seeking holistic education and careers have a variety of courses to choose from, including specialisations in food and nutrition, human development, fabric and apparel sciences, resource management and communication and extension. The graduate programme of the college is unique in its inter-disciplinary approach as well as its industrial linkages and placement of students.

The college also offers two one-year postgraduate courses -- diploma in dietics and public health nutrition and in education -- that are very popular among students.

Besides a highly qualified faculty, the college has well-equipped laboratories, hostel facilities, automated library facilities, sports infrastructure as well as a computer centre to meet the needs of students. Admission procedures for the upcoming new academic year will start from June 1.

-- Staff Reporter

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