The Hindu : New Delhi News : `DDA should see its role as a mission'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

`DDA should see its role as a mission'

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JUNE 8. The outgoing Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi, Vijai Kapoor, today called upon the Delhi Development Authority to take up large-scale housing, particularly for the poor, as a mission and emphasised the need for designing of houses which take care of the evolving social and economic changes and aspirations.

Speaking at a farewell ceremony organised for him by the DDA, Mr. Kapoor - who as Delhi L-G was also DDA Chairman -- said the role of the civic body may change from time to time but it will always have an important role to play in the development of Delhi as out of 1,500 square kilometres of urban area, a large portion still remains to be developed.

"In this context, the DDA should see its role as a mission and use the resources which it generates for execution of various projects for the development of the city'', Mr. Kapoor said in his interaction with the Vice-Chairman and other senior officers of the authority at Vikas Sadan.

Referrring to some aberrations which had occurred in the not so distant past, he said the organisation must function with full self-assurance and convert its inherent strengths and opportunities into meaningful action for development. He emphasised the need for projectisation of ideas and for drawing upon external expertise and resources on the basis of outsourcing in a transparent manner.

Mr. Kapoor also spoke about the need for finalising the Master Plan-2021 and for making it need-based with sufficient flexibility and provision for re-development. There was also a need for addressing the unorganised sector and the urban poor in a systematic manner, he said.

Similarly, he stressed on the importance of environmental conservation and greening which was another areas where the DDA had made impressive strides. He said he was proud to be associated with biodiversity projects taken up by the civic body and would like that it be completed to their full potential in a timely fashion.

Among other projects developed or facilitated by the DDA, he referred to the upcoming new Akshardham temple and various other initiatives which could become landmarks for conservation and development in terms of Delhi's future heritage.

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