Redevelopment cannot happen without either cutting or transplanting trees... Do we want people to live in slums?
This quotation heads today's interview on page 5 of The City Section, of The Indian Express. with Anoop Kumar Mittal, Chairperson cum Managing Director of NBCC. AK Mittal is currently conducting a tree census in Sarojini Nagar and pitches himself as the head of the National Building Construction Company, with a bleeding heart.
The less than three month old protest by a ragtag group of Delhi residents from all walks of life, protesting against loss of forest cover and the rampant decimation of trees in the name of construction and redevelopment have brought matters to a head.
Ordinary residents of New Delhi, have usually been second class citizens in matters pertaining to allotment and use of public spaces. Year after year and decade after decade, master plans that shuffle just about everything come into place, allowing for an unholy nexus between the state and commercial builders. A stay on the cutting of trees issued, by the Delhi high court,in colonies that were to be redeveloped has provided interim relief, putting the brakes on NBCC's aggressive rampage and destruction of gorgeous, ancient trees in several colonies.
Does AKM's heart really bleed for slum dwellers? Is he the friendly face of a welfare state that is building inhabitants beautiful homes? This is very far from the truth. A visit to East Kidwai Nagar and the soulless construction that now sits there, pretending to be a planned city provides a testimonial, countering NBCC lies.
Here is another snap interview, conducted as a result of the dissatisfaction generated by The Indian express interview. Since those interviewed are licensed to spin tall tales, it becomes necessary to counter this with a fictional interview where the truth can be told.
Ordinary Citizen: For whom and what does your heart bleed AKM Ji? How can we conceive of a city without trees?
Anil Kumar Mittal: ..Look at New York, Does it have any trees?
OC: Excuse me AKM Ji..Have you not heard of New York's Central Park?
AKM: So what? CP has a Central Park too?
OC: There is a difference in size, tree cover and usage,Nevertheless, you mention East Kidwai Nagar as a planned modern city. There seem to be too many commercial buildings in East Kidwai Nagar. Wasnt it a large housing colony for mid-level government employees ?
AKM: Aap chahtey kya hain? We have built beautiful homes for senior government employees. Unki bhi koi status hoti hai. We want them to live in prime property, in luxurious homes
OC: How many flats were there in Kidwai Nagar earlier?
AKM: There were over 2444 houses earlier
OC: How many flats do we have now where former residents will be relocated.?
AKM: We have given 210 Type II housing units. Very well planned with water harvesting. People can live without trees. They cannot live without cars. That is why our new colonies will be redeveloped to have parking facilities for 40,000 cars. Yet people are complaining about our having to cut 16,000 trees.
OC: Are trees not our living heritage? Should we not aim for sustainable cities?
AKM: Yes yes. So, we have made beautiful concrete trees, which will have no dead leaves and no plant debris, so no need to sweep and maintain the public areas. Plenty of concrete birds and animals., will be placed around these trees. Living species are pests. Cause too much nuisance. This is real development, that we plan to sustain for 30 years.
OC: Did you not say that we need to cut trees and transplant them because we do not want people to live in slums?
AKM: Absolutely. To prevent slum like environment, we have built flats in higher categories.We have had enough of people living in prime residential colonies, turning them into slums. We are making beautiful houses for beautiful people.
OC: How do you explain the proposed mall in Sarojini Nagar, or the plans for a WTC in Naroji Nagar? What happened in these instances to your plans of housing the city's millions?
AKM: Please don't be misguided. First you want redevelopment. Then you want beautiful homes. Where is the money going to come for all this? We will build a mall and sell off units. we will build a WTC and sell off units. Slowly we will collect the money. over a five year period.
OC: This sounds like social engineering. You have uprooted ordinary citizens living and employed in these parts, driven them away and ensured that they will never return. Do you think this is fair?
AKM: Arrey, what is your problem ? Are you an urban naxal? Are you threatening the developmental activity of the nation's capital?
No AKM JI. I am literate. I learnt that a project from Tamil Nadu was rehashed, cut and pasted and submitted as a proposal for Naroji Nagar, and that it was hurriedly passed.
AKM: Isn't this a wonderful example of Unity in Diversity? The same blood and spirit, the same water and air and trees exist through the length and breadth of India That is why when we cut a tree we planted fifty. Now we will plant five hundred. JAI Hind.
OC: When you are smashing and ripping up the city to build anew with our money, should you not discuss such important matters with us , the people?
AKM: Please stop this right now. What do you people know about architecture or trees? Thanks to you all Urban Naxals embracing lemon and pomegranate trees I will have to measure the circumference of the only two real Indian trees , the Neem and the Pipal. ? Why do we need any other trees anyway ? We can import lemons and all other fruits we want from Israel. Foodhall is already stocking such good quality fruits. I do all my shopping there. You also do the same please. Now please don't delay my work any further. It is of National Importance.
..
This quotation heads today's interview on page 5 of The City Section, of The Indian Express. with Anoop Kumar Mittal, Chairperson cum Managing Director of NBCC. AK Mittal is currently conducting a tree census in Sarojini Nagar and pitches himself as the head of the National Building Construction Company, with a bleeding heart.
The less than three month old protest by a ragtag group of Delhi residents from all walks of life, protesting against loss of forest cover and the rampant decimation of trees in the name of construction and redevelopment have brought matters to a head.
Ordinary residents of New Delhi, have usually been second class citizens in matters pertaining to allotment and use of public spaces. Year after year and decade after decade, master plans that shuffle just about everything come into place, allowing for an unholy nexus between the state and commercial builders. A stay on the cutting of trees issued, by the Delhi high court,in colonies that were to be redeveloped has provided interim relief, putting the brakes on NBCC's aggressive rampage and destruction of gorgeous, ancient trees in several colonies.
Does AKM's heart really bleed for slum dwellers? Is he the friendly face of a welfare state that is building inhabitants beautiful homes? This is very far from the truth. A visit to East Kidwai Nagar and the soulless construction that now sits there, pretending to be a planned city provides a testimonial, countering NBCC lies.
Here is another snap interview, conducted as a result of the dissatisfaction generated by The Indian express interview. Since those interviewed are licensed to spin tall tales, it becomes necessary to counter this with a fictional interview where the truth can be told.
Ordinary Citizen: For whom and what does your heart bleed AKM Ji? How can we conceive of a city without trees?
Anil Kumar Mittal: ..Look at New York, Does it have any trees?
OC: Excuse me AKM Ji..Have you not heard of New York's Central Park?
AKM: So what? CP has a Central Park too?
OC: There is a difference in size, tree cover and usage,Nevertheless, you mention East Kidwai Nagar as a planned modern city. There seem to be too many commercial buildings in East Kidwai Nagar. Wasnt it a large housing colony for mid-level government employees ?
AKM: Aap chahtey kya hain? We have built beautiful homes for senior government employees. Unki bhi koi status hoti hai. We want them to live in prime property, in luxurious homes
OC: How many flats were there in Kidwai Nagar earlier?
AKM: There were over 2444 houses earlier
OC: How many flats do we have now where former residents will be relocated.?
AKM: We have given 210 Type II housing units. Very well planned with water harvesting. People can live without trees. They cannot live without cars. That is why our new colonies will be redeveloped to have parking facilities for 40,000 cars. Yet people are complaining about our having to cut 16,000 trees.
OC: Are trees not our living heritage? Should we not aim for sustainable cities?
AKM: Yes yes. So, we have made beautiful concrete trees, which will have no dead leaves and no plant debris, so no need to sweep and maintain the public areas. Plenty of concrete birds and animals., will be placed around these trees. Living species are pests. Cause too much nuisance. This is real development, that we plan to sustain for 30 years.
OC: Did you not say that we need to cut trees and transplant them because we do not want people to live in slums?
AKM: Absolutely. To prevent slum like environment, we have built flats in higher categories.We have had enough of people living in prime residential colonies, turning them into slums. We are making beautiful houses for beautiful people.
OC: How do you explain the proposed mall in Sarojini Nagar, or the plans for a WTC in Naroji Nagar? What happened in these instances to your plans of housing the city's millions?
AKM: Please don't be misguided. First you want redevelopment. Then you want beautiful homes. Where is the money going to come for all this? We will build a mall and sell off units. we will build a WTC and sell off units. Slowly we will collect the money. over a five year period.
OC: This sounds like social engineering. You have uprooted ordinary citizens living and employed in these parts, driven them away and ensured that they will never return. Do you think this is fair?
AKM: Arrey, what is your problem ? Are you an urban naxal? Are you threatening the developmental activity of the nation's capital?
No AKM JI. I am literate. I learnt that a project from Tamil Nadu was rehashed, cut and pasted and submitted as a proposal for Naroji Nagar, and that it was hurriedly passed.
AKM: Isn't this a wonderful example of Unity in Diversity? The same blood and spirit, the same water and air and trees exist through the length and breadth of India That is why when we cut a tree we planted fifty. Now we will plant five hundred. JAI Hind.
OC: When you are smashing and ripping up the city to build anew with our money, should you not discuss such important matters with us , the people?
AKM: Please stop this right now. What do you people know about architecture or trees? Thanks to you all Urban Naxals embracing lemon and pomegranate trees I will have to measure the circumference of the only two real Indian trees , the Neem and the Pipal. ? Why do we need any other trees anyway ? We can import lemons and all other fruits we want from Israel. Foodhall is already stocking such good quality fruits. I do all my shopping there. You also do the same please. Now please don't delay my work any further. It is of National Importance.
..
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