Want Delhi to be known for its parks, gardens: CM to RWAs

NEW DELHI: Interacting with resident welfare associations (RWAs) of Pandav Nagar in east Delhi on Saturday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that he wanted the Capital to become renowned for its beautiful parks and gardens in the times to come.

The Chief Minister explained to them the decision made by the Delhi government to financially assist RWAs for maintenance of parks and gardens, and to provide sewage treatment plants (STPs) in these parks and gardens for maintenance.

The Aam Aadmi Party national convenor stated that he wanted Delhi to be known as "a city of parks and gardens" and this cannot be done alone by the government.

"We cannot achieve the target of beautiful parks and gardens without the people of Delhi joining the initiative. That is why we have come with this initiative of financial assistance to RWAs/NGOs for parks and gardens. We have to make them the best and the government is there to support you," he told the RWAs at the meeting.

"I am of the view that our senior citizens, kids and youth should get good parks and gardens to sit in, walk, run and general meet up. Parks are a good place especially for our elders for their morning & evening strolls and kids to play.

"Our youth use the park to run and jog. We must provide them with a clean and green area for the same," the Chief Minister said.

The thought behind the initiative is to enhance the green cover of Delhi, and to beautify and professionally maintain the parks and gardens with the help of RWAs.

The ultimate objective was to ensure that each welfare association came forward and adopted a park on its own.

The Delhi Cabinet, in September, approved the proposal for the doubling of financial assistance to RWAs/NGOs for maintenance of parks and gardens and provision of financial assistance for installation of STPs.

The Cabinet approved raising the financial assistance from Rs one lakh per acre to Rs two lakh per acre to parks and gardens registered with the Delhi Parks and Gardens Society.

It was also decided to calculate financial assistance on per acre basis and to do away with the item-wise bifurcation of financial assistance.