DQW Exclusive: All Nehru Place associations submit plea to the Lt Governor of Delhi

As the Nehru Place Bachao Andolan peace protest date is approaching near-scheduled on February 1st-all Nehru Place associations comprising NIWA, ADCTA, EFSA, CMDA and PCAIT have started running pillar to post to get the attention of the concerned authorities. The associations have collectively submitted its plea in written to Tejendra Khanna, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi on January 27. Additionally, PCAIT has also submitted its memorandum duly supported by all other associations on January 18; subsequently NIWA sent its plea to the Governor.

Meanwhile, the signature campaign of the associations, is on its last legs. So far, more than 25,000 Nehru Place occupants have shown their solidarity and support in the claim of the 'slum like' situation of the commercial plaza.

According to the plea sent by NIWA with the consent of all the associations, they have requested the authority to take action towards the situation and make the Plaza a pleasure to visit. The associations want immediate appointment of a local commissioner to give first hand view of the situation. They also want DDA and Delhi Police to clear unauthorized hawkers from entering the commercial center (barring the 114 subjudice hawkers); implement the status of 'No Hawking Zones' and many more. The plea has been submitted with a photographic and videography evidence of prevailing conditions in Nehru Place, along with a list of 114 street hawkers subjudice.

Speaking to The DQ Week, Anil Sehgal, president, NIWA said, "We emailed and couriered the memorandum to DDA and Police, and we are waiting for their positive response on our plea. Since the authorities are busy in Republic Day and beating retreat security, we could not get a chance to meet them personally. Hence, we are hopeful to meet them post January 31."

To keep the members updated on the situation, the associations are meeting daily and discussing the progress."We are quite confident that our protest will be creating an impact on the administration and they will take quick resolve to improve the situation," said Sehgal.

Talking about the preparation of the peace protest, V Krishnan, secretary, PCAIT said, "We are all geared up for the protest. We have already issued bandh circulars to all the occupants, and we will be putting banners and protest messages which are to be pasted on the building's lifts in Nehru Place. Moreover, we will be distributing caps with slogans of Nehru Place Bachao Andolan during the protest day."