A long walk in the area marked with tractors, iron rods, cranes, bricks, water pipes, surprisingly leads to the posh and modernised NBCC office lined with trees outside.
The construction site of the World Trade Centre by NBCC at Nauroji Nagar depicts the bleak picture of future. The area, which once had around 600 government quarters surrounded by leafy trees, today witnesses dry dusty and scorching heat because of the feeling of thousands of age-old trees in the name of redevelopment.
A long walk in the area marked with tractors, iron rods, cranes, bricks, water pipes, surprisingly leads to the posh and modernised NBCC office lined with trees outside. It is a 60-year-old Gurudwara Singh Sabha Sahib which is in the danger of demolishment today under the re-development programme. The Sanatan Dharma Shiv Temple in the area is also staring at the same fate.
Mukesh Singh, the caretaker of the Gurudwara said, "The development programme cannot replace the religious sentiments of the people. Instead of providing us with basic necessities such as water, the authorities are giving us verbal intimations of the demolishment." He added that they have been purchasing drinking water bottles from the thelas since February and get water once a week for other needs.
"They got the permission to cut 1,400 trees in this area, but there are no more plants in the area. I could have managed to save the trees around the Gurudwara, I planted mango, peepal, neem, jamun, among others, "he said.
He further told DNA that the devotees find it difficult to come for the weekend programme organised by the religious body because of the unorganised construction site with no proper way for them to reach the Gurudwara. According to the authorities of these religious places, the iron rods and bricks at night pose a challenge for people to come for the programme without proper a lighting system on the street.
The inadequate safety measures at the construction site pose a problem not only for human beings but animals such as stray dogs alike. In an incident, it was reported that an iron rod went through the neck of one of the dogs in the area and no step was taken by anyone.
"I took the dog to the hospital for three months, with my own money for the treatment," said Mukesh.
The deteriorating environment, inadequate safety measures at the site and the sentiments of people with the religious places, stand secondary to the modernised development programme undertaken by NBCC.
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 "World Trade Centre")
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