Jalaj Shrivastava, a 1984 batch Indian Administrative Service officer recently took over as the chairperson of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), the civic body that takes care of civic amenities in the Lutyens’ zone. He has joined the office at a time when NDMC is under attack from all quarters on a host of issues ranging from the shifting deadlines to complete Connaught Place (CP) project to scarcity of parking space and the auctioning of prestigious Taj Mansingh Hotel. Shrivastava accepts these criticisms as inputs for improvement.
In an interaction with Siddheshwar Shukla he frankly discusses the challenges and their possible solutions.
How do you feel about your new assignment?
It’s a very pleasant moment for me to head NDMC as I passed my childhood and school days in this area. My father used to live at CP so I am very much familiar with the place which helps me in understanding the ground realities of the area.
CP renovation project had missed several deadlines in the past and recently missed its deadline of 31 July deadline set by chief minister Sheila Dikshit?
I recently visited the construction sites to take stock of the situation. I can’t announce any new deadline but a meeting has been summoned on 16 August in which the contractor has been asked to give in writing about the expected date of completion of the construction work and cleaning of the site. There are some delays due to recent waterlogging in the underground tunnels, I hope the project would be completed by end of August.
The parking of vehicles is another big issue at CP and other parts of NDMC?
It’s a fact that there is almost no land to provide more space for surface parking. We have to encourage multi-level parking and use of public transport. At CP, we could have multi-level parking in peripheral areas and the entire space should be left for walkers with facility for sitting spaces.
As you said, you spent your childhood in CP, what is your vision for the area?
The illegal parking, poor sanitation and unauthorised Tehbazari (vendors) are a menace in the area. We have started a process to identify genuine vendors in the entire NDMC area and provide them identity cards with bar code or a system which can’t be duplicated or multiplied. In recent inspections, I found that many vendors are working on the photocopies of a single licence.
How will you improve sanitation in the Lutyens’ zone?
Maintaining sanitation is an ongoing process, we have recently constituted a team of six senior officers for regular monitoring of sanitation and I personally review their reports every Friday. They have been directed to inspect cleaning.
What are the other challenges in the NDMC area?
Unauthorised constructions is another major issue here. I have deployed teams to work on all the fronts and I hope we will come out with concrete solutions in a couple of months.
NDMC also missed a deadline to implement hiked parking rates in its area?
I have directed officers to review the provisions of the bidding as none of the bidder showed interest. The provisions would be made more realistic before going for a fresh bidding.
Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) recently pulled up NDMC on the issue of Taj Mansingh Hotel? What’s your stand on the controversy?
The council of NDMC is the top most body to take decisions. I will present the directions of the ministry in the next meeting on 4 September and convey its decisions to MHA.
What’s your vision for the Lutyens’ zone?
I want to see it neat and clean with more public sitting spaces and less vehicles. My first priority is to complete the pending projects and simultaneously collect maximum information for best possible
planning before launching any new project.
In an interaction with Siddheshwar Shukla he frankly discusses the challenges and their possible solutions.
How do you feel about your new assignment?
It’s a very pleasant moment for me to head NDMC as I passed my childhood and school days in this area. My father used to live at CP so I am very much familiar with the place which helps me in understanding the ground realities of the area.
CP renovation project had missed several deadlines in the past and recently missed its deadline of 31 July deadline set by chief minister Sheila Dikshit?
I recently visited the construction sites to take stock of the situation. I can’t announce any new deadline but a meeting has been summoned on 16 August in which the contractor has been asked to give in writing about the expected date of completion of the construction work and cleaning of the site. There are some delays due to recent waterlogging in the underground tunnels, I hope the project would be completed by end of August.
The parking of vehicles is another big issue at CP and other parts of NDMC?
It’s a fact that there is almost no land to provide more space for surface parking. We have to encourage multi-level parking and use of public transport. At CP, we could have multi-level parking in peripheral areas and the entire space should be left for walkers with facility for sitting spaces.
As you said, you spent your childhood in CP, what is your vision for the area?
The illegal parking, poor sanitation and unauthorised Tehbazari (vendors) are a menace in the area. We have started a process to identify genuine vendors in the entire NDMC area and provide them identity cards with bar code or a system which can’t be duplicated or multiplied. In recent inspections, I found that many vendors are working on the photocopies of a single licence.
How will you improve sanitation in the Lutyens’ zone?
Maintaining sanitation is an ongoing process, we have recently constituted a team of six senior officers for regular monitoring of sanitation and I personally review their reports every Friday. They have been directed to inspect cleaning.
What are the other challenges in the NDMC area?
Unauthorised constructions is another major issue here. I have deployed teams to work on all the fronts and I hope we will come out with concrete solutions in a couple of months.
NDMC also missed a deadline to implement hiked parking rates in its area?
I have directed officers to review the provisions of the bidding as none of the bidder showed interest. The provisions would be made more realistic before going for a fresh bidding.
Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) recently pulled up NDMC on the issue of Taj Mansingh Hotel? What’s your stand on the controversy?
The council of NDMC is the top most body to take decisions. I will present the directions of the ministry in the next meeting on 4 September and convey its decisions to MHA.
What’s your vision for the Lutyens’ zone?
I want to see it neat and clean with more public sitting spaces and less vehicles. My first priority is to complete the pending projects and simultaneously collect maximum information for best possible
planning before launching any new project.