The Hindu : New Delhi News : DDA yet to install mesh at Janakpuri `suicide towers'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 19, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

DDA yet to install mesh at Janakpuri `suicide towers'

Staff Reporter

Civic agency's response fails to match expectations of people

NEW DELHI: Though five persons have lost their lives and one sustained serious injuries in suicide attempts made at the Janakpuri district complex over the past four months, the Delhi Development Authority is yet to install any protective mesh or other material to change the image of the commercial area which has become a favourite "suicide point".

A week after Union Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken issued direct instructions to it to block the fire exits in the complex buildings with meshes to prevent suicide attempts, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Delhi) Robin Hibu lamented that "there has been no progress at the ground level".

Stating that the Delhi police had filed an application under Section 133 of the Cr.PC asking a Delhi court to shut down the district centre on the ground that it had become `dangerous and a nuisance', Mr Hibu said the court heard the viewpoint of DDA on the issue on Tuesday.

Despite much hue and cry, DDA has been slow to act on the issue and its response has failed to match the expectations of the people. While it is going to spend crores of rupees during its Golden Jubilee celebration from this New Year eve in order to bring about a change in its image, the manner in which its officials have approached this burning issue of suicides has left a lot to be desired.

Worse still, even Mr. Maken's demand for speedy action in the matter has gone unheard and even after the expiry of a week's deadline for installation of meshes the 14 high-rise towers of the district complex still stand tall without any protective measures.

It was on July 10 that Mr. Maken had directed DDA and the private builders at the district complex to install the meshes at all fire exits of the towers. He had also urged DDA to install them in a way that in the event of a fire they could be removed with ease. For this he had directed that the design of the mesh be finalised in a week in consultation with the Delhi Fire Service.

While the Minister had given DDA six to eight weeks to complete the installation of the meshes, the police and the fire sources said it was too long a period considering the sensitivity of the issue. On their part, the police have set up a permanent police picket at the district centre for better monitoring. While two personnel are posted at the picket during day and night, in the evening when the rush is more the number of personnel is also doubled.

The police have also taken to the direct approach of appealing to the people over loudspeakers urging them to keep an eye for "potential suicide victims". However, the police insist that it is almost impossible to prevent someone from taking his or her own life.

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