Vasant Kunj conjures up images of water scarcity besides lack of other civic amenities. Thirty-two dedicated resident welfare associations are engaged in sorting out the mess here. This Sunday, at a camp jointly organised by The Indian Express and Parivartan, the residents will learn how to ask the right questions under the Right to Information Act (RTI) and change their lives. Such camps will be held across the city in the coming days.
On Wednesday, the Vasant Kunj residents were already jotting down their questions, a large number of which relate to water scarcity.
‘‘Most of the flats here get water for only 15-20 minutes and, at times, not at all,’’ says Vinod Pant, president of RWA of Pocket C, Sector A. ‘‘There are 10 tubewells in the Vasant Kunj area but the water supply is very erratic. I want to know what the average discharge per tubewell is and verify whether the same quantity reaches us. I am considering filing an RTI application.’’
Faced with such a shortage, Prof R Saxena, President of RWA of B-7 block is appalled over Delhi Jal Board not repairing their main pipeline ‘‘which has been leaking for more than a year now’’ despite numerous complaints. He is now planning to file an RTI application.
Subhash Sahni from C-4 block wants to know why the tubewell in his area gives out muddy water.
If Vasant Kunj’s problems ended with water, it could breathe easy. The streetlights are in a mess. ‘‘Many of them don’t even have a tubelight or bulb or even a holder but BSES is least bothered. In fact, we had to fix temporary cables and bulbs when they did not pay any heed,’’ says R.Saxena of B-7 block.
Pant pitches in: ‘‘Our underground cables are very old and give away the moment rains set in but the discom does not replace them despite repeated requests. We had to even buy sodium bulbs from RWA funds.’’ Prodding with RTI could produce results.
The roads, as in other Delhi colonies, are bumpy. ‘‘Show me one road in Vasant Kunj which is without potholes. Also the roads are being dug up throughout the year by various agencies. I want to know why they cannot work in tandem,’’ says Subhash Sahni of C-4 block. Saxena complains that the road connecting
B-7 to B-8 is full of potholes and has seen no repair for 15 years.
Wing Commander S Hota of C-4 block, however, wants the residents to look within as far as encroachments and illegal constructions are concerned. ‘‘Most houses have encroached on public land. I want to know why the authorities are silent spectators? I hope RTI can help in this regard,’’ he says.
All it takes is a few minutes this Sunday
Have you changed your life? You can begin by asking questions about that potholed road in your colony or the overflowing garbage dump or the foul-smelling water on your tap? The Right to Information Act empowers you.
The Indian Express and Parivartan will be jointly organising camps across the city to bring RTI to your doorstep. The first camp for South Delhi will be held on September 5 at the Community Hall in Sector A, Pocket C, Vasant Kunj. If you have a problem, come between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and get all the help you need to tell them you know.