Latest news with #CentralPublicWorksDepartment
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
Delhil L-G relaxes rules on cutting trees for govt. housing project
Lieutenant-Governor V.K. Saxena recently granted exemption under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, clearing the way for potential felling or transplantation of 856 trees for a government housing project in Kasturba Nagar. The exemption, notified on June 13, allows the Central Public Works Department to apply for tree clearance for the 8.90-hectare General Pool Residential Accommodation site.
New Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
L-G gives nod to disciplinary action against PWD engineer
NEW DELHI: Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has approved a proposal to initiate disciplinary proceedings against a senior PWD engineer for alleged irregularities in the construction of classrooms under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, a statement from the L-G house said on Thursday. The alleged official, a former Executive Engineer, is currently posted with the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) in Amritsar, the statement said. This decision follows serious irregularities identified in the implementation of the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, a centrally sponsored initiative aimed at enhancing educational infrastructure in Delhi, which was allocated Rs 38.37 crore for the construction of 226 classrooms across various schools, the officials said. The Vigilance Department had proposed to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the PWD engineer under Rule-14 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, has received endorsement from both the principal secretary (Vigilance) and the chief secretary, officials said. A public interest litigation was filed in the Delhi High Court on June 11, 2019, seeking a directive for the government to hand over possession of six newly constructed school buildings. This litigation prompted the then chief secretary to investigate the matter, during which significant irregularities in construction practices and fund management were uncovered, officials said. The then chief secretary constituted a committee on March 26 last year to examine the issues. The committee's findings revealed lapses on the part of the PWD, including the diversion of funds intended for the construction of 20 classrooms at Trinagar School to Rani Bagh School and the construction of a Multi-Purpose Hall without obtaining the necessary approvals. The Education Department did not conduct a comprehensive feasibility analysis regarding the physical infrastructure and space availability in the schools. This oversight led to confusion during the implementation phase. The Education Department was also found to have not provided land free from encumbrances, for construction, which led to double funding of the same project, officials said.
Hindustan Times
06-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Land exemption given for tree felling at Delhi's Central Vista
The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi VK Saxena has granted a special exemption to a 5.037-hectare government construction site from area restrictions under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA), 1994. The move clears a procedural hurdle for the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to seek permission to transplant or fell 476 trees for two buildings that are part of the Common Central Secretariat (the sixth and seventh ones) at Maulana Azad Road , part of the Central Vista redevelopment project. The exemption was approved in an official gazette notification dated May 30 and published on Thursday. The exemption was granted under Section 29 of the DPTA by Saxena, allowing the Tree Officer (West Forest Division) to consider a pending application concerning the transplantation or felling of 476 trees within the project site. The application was submitted through the DPTA e-Forest portal by Kushagra Singh, Executive Engineer at the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). The usual limit for considering applications under Section 9(3) of the Act is one hectare. Since the project spans over five hectares, the Tree Officer requested an exemption to process the application legally. Section 29 of the DPTA, 1994 gives the power to the Government to effect such exemptions. 'The Tree Officer shall give his decision within sixty days from the date of receipt of the application: provided that no permission shall be granted to any person from the same area on more than two occasions during the same year subject to a maximum area of one hectare at a time,' the act states. To be sure, the notification clarifies that the exemption does not grant permission to cut or transplant any trees. It merely allows the Tree Officer to consider transplantation and felling on a larger plot. 'This notification for exemption under Section 29… shall not be considered as permission for transplantation/felling of trees under the DPTA, 1994,' the act adds. The next step will be an independent assessment of the application by the Tree Officer. This will include scrutiny under the DPTA, the Delhi Preservation of Trees Rules, 1996, relevant guidelines, and court orders. The Tree Officer must apply due diligence and aim to minimize the number of trees affected by the project. This construction site forms part of the broader Central Vista redevelopment initiative, aimed at reorganizing and modernizing central administrative infrastructure. Work is progressing on Common Central Secretariat (CCS) Buildings 6 and 7, following approval by the Heritage Conservation Committee in January and the issuance of construction bids in November 2024. These buildings, rising on the sites of the old Vice-President's House and Vigyan Bhawan Annexe respectively along Maulana Azad Road, will form the core of the new Defence Enclave. This enclave will consolidate offices for the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and the armed services, including the Department of Defence Production and the headquarters of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. A retired IFS and former official in Delhi's forest and wildlife department said the decision does not mean trees will be felled, but simply uses the exemption clause for a tree officer in Delhi to pick up the project case. 'The tree officer will still have to approve or reject the plan and decide eventually how many trees are felled or transplanted. Since the area was more than one hectare, the tree officer would not have been able to pick up the case. At the same time, it is likely this was not forest land. In order for the tree act to apply, one needs to use such an exemption to allow the tree officer to consider greater area — more than one hectare,' said the retired official, on condition of anonymity. The official added such exemptions have been used in the past as well, to allow projects over one hectare in area to be processed, including several road and highway projects in Delhi. 'This is the standard procedure to allow DPTA to apply to projects in non-forest land.' The LG had a day earlier granted a similar approval for the exemption of a 2.16 hectares patch for a flyover project at the Nand Nagri to Gagan Cinema junction in north-east Delhi. The project involves transplantation of 27 trees. Officials in Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) did not respond to HT's queries.
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Rana Man Singh: Nehru's architect who designed Shanti Van
The year was 1949. Then Prime Minister of newly independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was visiting the US. While he was in New York, a young man Rana Man Singh met him. Singh was then working with the great architect Frank Lloyd Wright. He had moved to the US after studying at the JJ School of Art in Bombay. During their meeting, Nehru urged Singh to return to home and contribute to the building of a new India. The idea resonated with Singh, who returned to Delhi in 1951. One day, he met Nehru at Teen Murti House. Nehru recognised him and said he would soon be put to work. A few days later, Singh joined the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). Years later, Singh would be tasked with landscaping Nehru's memorial, Shanti Van. Singh also designed several other important buildings across the country. Bal Bhavan (1953), Buddha Jayanti Park (1956), the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) (1964), and the Nehru Planetarium (1980), are among his works in Delhi. Buddha Jayanti Park is considered a milestone in Singh's career. It was developed in 1959 to commemorate the 2500th anniversary of Lord Buddha's Parinirvana. The government had allocated 300 acres of land for this park, and Nehru himself entrusted Singh with this project. On Tuesday (May 27), people from all walks of life visited Shanti Van to pay tribute to Nehru on his death anniversary. Upon entering the complex, they would have felt the incessant din of Mahatma Gandhi Road fade away. The atmosphere of Shanti Van is profoundly calm. In the morning, when the first rays of the sun touch the green spread along the banks of the Yamuna, Shanti Van appears even more enchanting. The chirping of birds, the gentle breeze, and the sound of the flowing Yamuna transform this place into a meditative sanctuary. Shanti Van was established in 1964 around the spot where the last rites of the first Prime Minister of India were performed. The name Shanti Van (forest of peace) reflects the peaceful and inclusive vision Nehru espoused throughout his life. Thousands of birds inhabit the countless trees here, their chirping beginning at dawn. You will see dozens of squirrels scurrying about all day. Awash with the colours of blooming roses, jasmine, marigolds, and other flowers, Shanti Van is one of Delhi's most peaceful havens amidst its bustling life. Nehru's samadhi is a simple black stone platform. For the past one and a half to two decades, Brother Solomon George has been reading excerpts from the Bible at the interfaith prayer meetings held here on November 14th and May 27th. George occasionally visits to sit here, finding solace in the greenery and tranquillity. Besides him, many others come to Shanti Van to spend a few moments in its serene environment. Shanti Van is maintained by the Central Public Works Department. Singh specifically had Neem and Peepal trees planted here, reflecting Nehru's love for Indian culture and environmental conservation. Buddha Jayanti Park also boasts numerous Neem and Peepal trees. The design of Shanti Van maintains harmony with the environment. Its greenery and open spaces not only provide aesthetic beauty but also symbolise Nehru's principles of peace and non-alignment. There are no grand monuments or excessive decorations. Situated on the banks of the Yamuna, its natural beauty is further enhanced. The calm flow of the river and the surrounding natural scenery offer spiritual peace. Beyond Shanti Van, Singh designed buildings and spaces that stand out as unique and unparalleled due to their distinctive designs. His buildings allow ample sunlight and fresh air. When designing the Nehru Memorial Library, he kept the capital's arid climate in mind. Hence the strong focus on landscaping: You will find greenery at every turn here, which undoubtedly provides relief in summer. Singh was entrusted with designing the NMML in the Teen Murti complex in 1964. His primary task was to design the library, seminar rooms, and auditorium. Teen Murti House was designed by Robert Tor Russell, who also designed Safdarjung Airport, Connaught Place, Western Court, and Eastern Court. Singh knew that his work would be compared to Russell's: He didn't disappoint. Singh designed the NMML in such a way that visitors to the library and other parts of the building would always have a view of the beautiful gardens. For this, he incorporated ample window space in the two-story building. Those reading in the library can see the greenery outside, and once someone studies here, they rarely find other places appealing. Many of his contemporaries were influenced by Edwin Lutyens or the French architect Le Corbusier, but Singh constantly sought to create something original. His work bears no overt influence from others. Rana Man Singh passed away in 2012. Vivek Shukla is the author of Gandhi's Delhi. The views expressed are personal. Get 360° coverage—from daily headlines to 100 year archives.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Deadlines set to resolve Arunachal film institute issues
GUWAHATI Deadlines have been set for various agencies to resolve the infrastructural and academic crises in the Film and Television Institute, Arunachal Pradesh (FTI-AP). The first batch of students at the institute located in Jote went on an indefinite academic strike on May 15, barely two months after their two-year postgraduate diploma course started in March. They alleged administrative apathy and broken promises regarding basic amenities and academic necessities. The FTI-AP is situated in Papum Pare district's Jote, 24 km from the State's capital, Itanagar. Its foundation was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi eight years ago. Taking serious note of the grievances of the students, Papum Pare Deputy Commissioner Jiken Bomjen convened a meeting with all the stakeholders, including officers of all the departments involved in the construction of the institute, on Friday (May 23, 2025). Devesh Budhani, the Executive Engineer of the Central Public Works Department handling the project, said the classroom theatre building housing the performance labs will be handed over to the FTI-AP management by May 31. He also said the girls' hostel will be ready by June 15, followed by the sound studio and preview theatre. Rajesh Dawe, the Executive Engineer (Electrical) of the State's Department of Power, said an agreement has been signed with the National Institute of Technology nearby to share its express line with the FTI-AP for a year to ensure uninterrupted electricity. 'The film institute should apply for an express line of its own for seamless power supply,' he advised. Told to come up with a solution to deal with falling debris from the construction site of a water treatment plant on the campus, the Executive Engineer of the Public Health Engineering Department, Ngurang Niya, said a temporary lift-water system has been put in place. 'Pre-monsoon showers slowed down the work on the water treatment plant, which is about 80% complete. We are trying to finish the work as soon as possible,' he said. The water treatment plant is between the residential area and the classrooms of the FTI-AP. The falling debris from the plant has been blocking the connecting path. The Deputy Commissioner assigned the Circle Officer concerned to handle the law-and-order issues of the institute and proposed the creation of an ex-officio post for the district head to deal with local matters related to the FTI-AP. The FTI-AP is being managed by the Kolkata-based Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, which conducted its three-stage admission process in October 2024. The institute has 14 faculty members, mostly filmmakers and academics with acting experience.
