HC asks DDA to rectify damages on park due to construction

The Delhi High Court today directed the DDA to rectify the damage caused to a North Delhi park, which was being converted into a community centre, and restore its original shape.

The court's direction came during the hearing a PIL filed on behalf of a minor girl, challenging the Delhi Development Authority's (DDA) decision to convert the park in a north Delhi residential area into a community centre.

The bench was informed by the DDA that a decision has now been taken to change the site for constructing a multi-purpose community hall.

"DDA to ensure that any damage caused to the park is rectified and is restored in its original shape," a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said and listed the matter for April 20 next year.
 

The petitioner's counsel, Akhil Sachar, sought a direction to restrain the DDA from "destroying the park" in north Delhi's Rohini area by constructing the multi-storey community hall inside it.

While the DDA filed its response to the petition, the Lieutenant Governor sought time following which the court asked it to file the reply in four weeks.

DDA, in its affidavit, said a proposal for an alternative site for the construction of community centre was placed before the screening committee under the chairmanship of its vice chairman and it was approved in a meeting of November 17.

The affidavit said that due to complaints from some local residents and the matter under litigation, it was viewed that another option may be explored for providing the community hall.

The court had earlier put on hold the construction of the community centre by the DDA and lamented that people in the national capital appeared to be more concerned about having community centres than parks.

The plea has claimed that the residents of the locality, especially children, were severely affected and aggrieved by the "illegal and arbitrary decision" of the DDA to construct the centre which will "destroy" the 30-year-old park.

It has claimed that there was a vacant plot of DDA land available in the area which was planned for community services so there was no justification in destroying the park.