Delhi Government approves 6 Metro corridors in Dec 2018, GoI unilaterally approves only 3 corridors, increases Delhi Government contribution without discussion and revises component costs #DelhiGovernance #AAPatWork #AntiFederal

Attention of the Delhi government has been drawn towards the media reports about the Phase IV of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). Detailed factual position is as follows :    

Inspite of serious reservations on some critical issues, the Delhi government has released Rs 200 Crore to the DMRC on 26/03/2019 for meeting the cost of DMRTS Phase-IV Project for the year 2018-19.

However, while releasing the amount of Rs 200 crore, following concerns have been conveyed to the DMRC :

The Delhi government had approved all the six Corridors proposed by the Delhi Metro in Phase-IV vide Cabinet Decision dated 19/12/2018. However, the Government of India thereafter on 09/03/19 approved only three Corridors out of the six approved by the Delhi Cabinet.

Once the Project Report has been approved by the Delhi government, the Government of India should not have unilaterally made any changes. A clear stand of the Delhi Government is that the Government of India should also have approved all the six Corridors of Delhi Metro Phase-IV.

It is very well known that the issue of approval of Phase-IV of DMRC is going on for quite sometime. If the Government of India was of the opinion that only three Priority Corridors were required to be considered in the first stage, it could have very well communicated to the Delhi government and in that case, the Delhi Cabinet could also have approved only these three Corridors.

These kind of unilateral changes by the Government of India without either taking the Delhi government into confidence or even without communicating any reasons for its change in stand, is not comprehendible.

Secondly, the component-wise cost has also been revised by the Government of India unilaterally without assigning any reasons/justification. Equity component of the Delhi Government has been increased from 8.08 % to 16.36%.

Similarly, the entire amount towards land acquisition has been apportioned to the Delhi government whereas in the earlier three Phases, it was apportioned between Government of India and the Delhi government equally.

Share of Delhi government in the Project Cost has also been increased substantially as compared to that approved by the Delhi cabinet. Contribution of Delhi government towards three Priority Corridors (including additional 244 cars) has been increased from 20.77% to 31.44%.

The above unilateral changes are not only against the federal system of Government but also substantially increase the financial burden of the Delhi government, therefore while releasing the amount of Rs 200 crore for the Metro Phase IV, the above mentioned concerns have been conveyed to the DMRC.

Delhi Government opposes fee hike of private schools using 7th Pay Commission as a reason; 320 schools under audit and analysis ambit #DelhiGovernance #AAPatWork

           Fee hike by private schools has no relation to 7^th Pay Commission for teachers

 ·         Deputy CM Manish Sisodia says Delhi govt not against private schools but will not allow extortion from parents

Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Mr Manish Sisodia on Thursday emphatically stated that unjustified fee hike by some private schools has nothing to do with the implementation of the seventh Pay Commission for the teachers working in private schools.

Mr Sisodia said that a false impression has been sought to be created by vested interests that the Delhi government is against the implementation of the seventh pay Commission, which is completely baseless.

Mr Sisodia addressed the media, to clear the air after the interim stay till April 8 by a division bench of the Delhi High Court, against a single-judge bench’s order which had earlier allowed private unaided schools built on government land to hike their fees.

Many private schools in Delhi attempted to arbitrarily revise the fee structure citing the implementation of the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission on salaries of teachers and other employees.

Delhi government, through a circular issued on April 13, 2018, had restrained private unaided schools built on government land from hiking tuition fees without the approval of the Directorate of Education.

The circular directed the private schools to meet the additional financial resources required to implement the seventh pay commission recommendations from their surplus without hiking the fees.

“The reasons behind this restriction are two-fold, first these schools are situated in the land allotted by DDA and therefore bearing certain societal obligations and secondly the government is against the exploitation of parents and students due to higher fee structure”, said Mr Sisodia. “As per the law of the land, converting educational institutions to profitable entities is illegal”, he stated.

There are 325 private schools situated in the government land allotted by DDA.  Out of these 260 schools had applied for fees hike, but 32 schools withdrew their applications.

During audit of accounts, it was found that  nearly 150 schools had sufficient surplus to implement seventh Pay Commission and were therefore denied permission to hike the fees. Rest of the applications are under the process.

The details will be submitted in the court, Mr Sisodia said. He also stated that there are schools with excess surplus of even up-to Rs 40 crore after factoring the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission on salaries of teachers and other employees. There are cases reported that schools inflating the expenditure on record by showing farce purchases and Annual Maintainance Contracts, he said.

Mr Sisodia said the Delhi government recognizes the important role of the private schools in education in Delhi. The government is against extortion from the parents by the private schools in the name of fees, he said. Also he pointed out the irony in hiring extremely expensive lawyers using the fees collected from the students to fight against the legitimate interests of the students.

Delhi government school pass percentage for Class XI touches 80%, first time in 8 years! #DelhiGovernance #AAPatWork #EducationRevolution

Pass Percentage in Delhi govt schools class XI touches 80% for the first time in eight years

The results of the Annual exams of all classes (other than class X and XII) in Delhi government schools conducted centrally by the Exam branch of the Directorate of Education, Government of Delhi were declared by the schools on March 30, 2019. The aggregate record is available with the Directorate of Education now.

The key highlights of the results are as follows:

In Class XI, there has been a significant improvement over last year’s performance. While 71% students of this class passed their exam in 2017-18, it has improved to 80% in 2018-19. From 2015-16 onwards, the pass percentage in this class has been around 72% as opposed to 63% in 2014-15. This year i.e. in 2018-19, it touched 80% for the first time.

Similarly, in class IX, the pass percentage has remained almost the same as previous year. While 57.4% students passed in 2017-18, the pass percentage for 2018-19 is 57.8%. There has been a slow but consistent improvement in the pass percentage over the last four years in this class due to programmes and initiatives like Chunauti and Mission Buniyaad which is strengthening the foundational learning skills of students by the time they reach Class IX. In 2015-16, the pass percentage in this class was 50.8% which improved to 52.3% the next year followed by 57.4% in 2017-18. It is important to note that the improvement recorded last year and maintained this year has been despite the change in the weightage for external and internal component. While before 2017-18, the weightage for external was of 60%, it was increased to 80% as per CBSE norms.

Other classes that assume significance in the wake of recently amended Right to Education Act 2009 are classes V and VIII. As per the amendment, the State Governments are now free to revoke No detention policy in classes V and VIII. The report of the committee constituted by the Delhi State Advisory Council recommending the provision to detain students in classes V and VIII under certain circumstances is already submitted to the Government for its implementation from the new sessions viz 2019-20. The results of these two classes for the session 2018-19, which will have no bearing on their promotion to next class as the NDP was still operational in that session, are as follows:

In class V, of about 26,000 students who were enrolled in 416 Sarvodaya schools of Delhi Government in the session 2018-19, the total who secured the minimum prescribed marks are 93%. This has been consistent over the last 4 years.

In class VIII, the pass percentage improved by about 5 percentage points this year. In 2017-18, the pass percentage was 59.3% which improved to 64.7% in 2018-19.

The Delhi Government reiterates its commitment to deeply focus on learning outcomes in the new academic session as well and strengthen its teacher training program so that innovative pedagogies are applied by them to speed up the learning of last 30-40% children in the classroom who were neglected in the past. Apart from national and international level trainings, in the budget for 2019-20, Teachers Innovation Fund of Rs. 1 to 1.5 lacs per school has been announced to encourage teachers to take up projects for learning improvement among children in their respective context. For promoting excellence among students, Pratibha fellowships and the Chief Minister’s Merit scholarship have also been introduced.

DPCC orders DM (West) to close polluting or illegal industrial units (April 2019) #DelhiGovernance #AAPatWork

Press Release

Mayapuri Industrial Area Sealing Drive on 13,04.2019

• In compliance of  the directions passed by Hon’ble National Green Tribunal (NGT) in the matter of OA No. 807/2018, DPCC had issued an order constituting Special Task Force (STF) headed by Dy. Commissioner, West Zone of South DMC.
• The said STF is responsible for implementing the various directions issued by Hon’ble NGT vide order dated 23.10.2018 in the said matter.
• The STF conducted a survey of C,D,E & W Blocks of Phase-II, Mayapuri Industrial Area in second week of January, 2019.
• Nodal officer of the survey team was SDM , Delhi Cantt.  As per the survey, 85 to 95 % occupiers were found engaged in  commercial activity and it was observed that illegal activities were taking place on  public land / roads,  directly or indirectly in connivance of the occupiers thereby causing health hazard and extreme pollution in the area.
• DPCC has issued closure directions and got physically sealed 24 industrial units out of total 47 which were operating without valid consent to operate from DPCC,  irrespective of the fact whether they were involved in illegal vehicle scrapping inside or outside their premises.
• The STF met on 09 occasions and last meeting was held on 05.03.2019. During STF meetings, it was decided that necessary action is to be taken by all the responsible agencies in respect of illegal dismantling activity taking place on public land.
• DPCC has issued directions to SDMC, DSIIDC, Delhi Police and Divisional Commissioner on 25.03.2019 & 28.03.2019 to take necessary action to remove encroachments and to close illegal dismantling unit immediately so as to comply with directions of Hon’ble NGT.
• SDMC along with other agencies undertook an exercise on 26-28 March, 2019 to remove the encroachments from public land to control pollution related activities.
• An Inspection was conducted on 28.03.2019 by Chairman, DPCC along with the Nodal Officer of STF, and officials of other agencies.  It was revealed that although encroachments  have been removed to a certain extent, but large quantity of the junk material is lying on the road. Subsequently around 305 MT of metal scrap was removed by SDMC as per the report of Dy. Commissioner, West Zone.
• Keeping in view of the Polluters Pay Principle, DPCC has levied Rs.1,00,000/- as Environmental Damages Compensation (EDC) on each of the 785 occupiers of industrial and commercial units..
• Hon’ble NGT while hearing the matter on 11.04.2019 expressed dissatisfaction on the progress made by various agencies and has directed the Chief Secretary, Chairman, DPCC, Member Secretary, DPCC to be present during the next date of hearing i.e. 03.05.2019.
• Subsequent to the hearing dated 11.04.2019, the entire matter was reviewed and it was decided to take steps for effective closure of polluting units which are polluting or allowing polluting activity around their premises,  and disconnection of power / water supply,  apart from levying an EDC of Rs. 50,00,000/- on each of the 785 occupiers.
• Five teams for undertaking the sealing operations on 13.4.2019 were  constituted,  consisting of officials from Revenue Department, MCD, Delhi Police and DPCC.
• The sealing operations on 13.04.2019 were hampered by outbreak of violence.  SDM Delhi Cantt. and DC West Zone (SDMC)/ Nodal Officer STF have informed that further decision on sealing operations may be taken after assessing the law & order situation.
• It has been reported that Delhi High Court has on 15.04.2019 in W.P. (C) No. 3949/2019 Amrik Singh Chawla & Others Vs. State of GNCT of Delhi &others directed DPCC not to take any coercive action for recovering the environmental damage levied on polluting units.

DPCC is committed to enforcing all directions of NGT and Judicial Courts and

     taking effective steps for controlling pollution in Delhi.

Delhi Govthelps 1322 out of 1467 industries convert from liquid to PNG fuel to improve Delhi air quality; fines MCD for illegal dumping of waste and medical waste in 12 drains #AAPatWork #DelhiGovernance

DPCC has taken following actions in compliance of orders of Hon’ble NGT

1. 1. To improve air quality  in Delhi, DPCC has got converted 1322 industries to PNG fuel from  other liquid fuel out of total 1467 industrial units identified for conversion.
2. 2. DPCC has issued directions to all non-bedded health care facilities to obtain authorization by 25.04.2018 under Bio-medical Waste Management Rules 2016 or face closure.
3. 3. Environmental Compensation @ 5,00,000/- each has been levied to South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Public Works Department and District Level Monitoring Committee (South East) (formed under the Chairmanship of concerned Deputy Commissioner) for incidence reported in Times of India of  illegal dumping of bio-medical waste in Barapullah Nallah.
4. 4. DPCC has imposed Environmental Damage Compensation on Municipal Corporations for unauthorized dumping of garbage in drains  at 38 places on 10 Drains @ Rs 50,000/- each
5. 5. DPCC has imposed Environmental Damage Compensation of Rs 50,000/- each on units and East DMC on five unauthorized units in East DMC area.
6. 6. South MCD along with Delhi Police and SDM (Delhi Cantt) took massive action of removal of encroachments in Mayapuri Industrial Area C, D & D to stop unauthorized scraping of vehicles. DPCC imposed Environmental Compensation Damages (EDC) of Rs. 1 lakh each on 785 occupiers which were found during survey by the Special Task Force.
7. 7. A team DPCC conducted an inspection on 10.04.2018 of the Mayapuri Industrial Area to confirmed  that no scraping activity is running in public area. As per the report, the team was surrounded by local traders in protest of action taken and team had take shelter in Police Station.

Chairperson of Delhi Estimates Committee MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj lays out facts on AAP’s effort in traffic and pollution, and BJP’s systematic efforts to scuttle them #DelhiGovernance #AAPatWork

भाजपा ने दिल्ली की सड़कों पर बढ़ाया प्रतिदिन 15 लाख लोगों का ट्रैफिक जाम और प्रदूषण –सौरभ भारद्वाज

दिल्ली में प्रदूषण और जाम की समस्या के पीछे भाजपा का षड्यंत्र

भाजपा द्वारा सार्यातायात की स्थितियों को दिल्ली में खराब करने और दिल्ली शहर को जाम व प्रदूषण की ओर धकेलने पर आम आदमी पार्टी के प्रवक्ता सौरभ भारद्वाज ने कई बड़े खुलासे किए।

प्रेस वार्ता को संबोधित करते हुए सौरव भारद्वाज ने बताया कि –

‘ 2 साल पहले केंद्र की भाजपा सरकार ने मई और अक्टूबर 2017 में दिल्ली मेट्रो के किराए 6 महीने के अंदर दोगुने कर दिये थे। आम आदमी पार्टी ने  हर स्तर पर इस प्रस्ताव का विरोध किया था क्योंकि हमें पता था कि इसकी वजह से जनता को समस्या होगी और न सिर्फ मेट्रो में राइडरशिप घटेगी बल्कि दिल्ली की सड़कों पर जाम और प्रदूषण की समस्या की बढ़ेगी।  2 साल से अधिक का समय बीत चुका है और अब समय है जब देखा जाए कि वास्तव में क्या हुआ है।’

दिल्ली मेट्रो  बढ़े किराए की वजह  राइडरशिप के आंकड़ों पर सीधा प्रभाव पड़ा है और इसकी संख्या मार्च 2017 के मुकाबले 3 लाख कम हो गई है और जब की कुल मिलाकर राइडरशिप 15 लाख घटी है क्योंकि फेस 3 का काम पूरा हो चुका है।

मार्च 2017 में दिल्ली मेट्रो की राइडरशिप 28 लाख यात्री प्रतिदिन थी जबकि दिसंबर 2018 में यह संख्या सिर्फ 25 लाख रह गई यानि  की प्रतिदिन 3 लाख यात्रियों की कमी।  जबकि इस अवधि के दौरान दिल्ली मेट्रो की कुल लंबाई 212 किलोमीटर से बढ़कर 327 किलोमीटर हो गई है यानी 55 प्रतिशत की कुल वृद्धि हुई है इसके साथ साथ दिल्ली मेट्रो को सुविधाजनक बनाने के हिसाब से विभिन्न जगहों पर इंटरचेंज पॉइंट भी बनाए गए।

दिल्ली मेट्रो के फेस 3 के पूरा होने पर राइडर शिप का निर्धारित लक्ष्य 40 लाख यात्री प्रतिदिन था और चुकी अब फ़ेज़ 3 पूरा हो चुका है तो यदि 25 लाख यात्रियों के हिसाब से देखें तो प्रतिदिन 15 लाख यात्रियों की संख्या में गिरावट आई है।

ऊपर के इन सभी बिन्दुओं से साफ होता है कि मेट्रो किराया में हुई बढ़ोतरी दिल्ली के लिए घातक साबित हुई है जिसकी वजह से दिल्ली मेट्रो में राइडरशिप ऐतिहासिक रूप से घटी है और दिल्ली के मेट्रो के वित्तीय योजना का मजाक बना है और साथ–साथ लोग अपने निजी वाहनों का प्रयोग करने को मजबूर हुए हैं जिससे दिल्ली में जाम और प्रदूषण की समस्या बढ़ी है।

दिल्ली मेट्रो में किराए के निर्धारण की प्रक्रिया और तर्क को पूरी तरह से बदल कर सुधार करने की जरूरत है। सौरभ भारद्वाज ने इस प्रेस वार्ता के दौरान यह भी कहा कि पूरे विश्व में जिन भी शहरों में  मेट्रो सेवाएं चलाई जाती हैं वहां पर उनके किराया का निर्धारण उस शहर की न्यूनतम मजदूरी के आधार पर किया जाता है। इसके लिए सौरभ भारद्वाज ने दुनिया की तमाम देशों जैसे कि बीजिंग न्यू यार्क, पेरिस टोक्यो और सिंगापुर के मेट्रो किरायों की तुलना की।

सौरभ भारद्वाज ने कहा कि मेट्रो के संचालन का पूरा खर्च गरीब जनता से वसूलने की भाजपा की नीति दिल्ली वालों पर भारी पड़ रही है | उन्होंने सिंगापुर के मेट्रो किराया में से तुलना करते हुए कहा कि अगर देखा जाए तो सिंगापुर की तुलना में दिल्ली मेट्रो के किराए दोगुने हैं जबकि दुनिया की कई शहरों के मुकाबले यह तीन गुनी है।

उदाहरण के तौर पर सिंगापुर में प्रतिदिन प्रति व्यक्ति न्यूनतम मजदूरी $48 है जबकि वहां पर अधिकतम से अधिकतम दूरी के लिए मेट्रो का किराया ₹5 है या नहीं कुल न्यूनतम मजदूरी का मात्र 10.5% वहीं अगर दिल्ली की न्यूनतम मजदूरी की बात करें तो यह ₹513 है जबकि दिल्ली मेट्रो का राउंड ट्रिप अधिकतम किराया ₹108 बनता है यानी कि प्रतिदिन प्रति व्यक्ति न्यूनतम मजदूरी का 21.10%

तो इस तरह तमाम योग्य सांसदों को छोड़कर एक सेवानिवृत्त ब्यूरोक्रेट और तथाकथित बुद्धिमान मंत्री जगदीश पुरी जी की नीतियों के कारण दिल्ली मेट्रो की राइडरशिप 15 लाख व्यक्ति प्रतिदिन अपने लक्ष्य की तुलना में गिरी है जिसका खामियाजा दिल्ली के लोगों को भुगतना पड़ रहा है। क्योंकि आज लोग दिल्ली के विभिन्न इलाकों में स्कूटर, मोटरसाइकिल, बस, रिक्शा से जाना पसंद करते हैं और कहते हैं कि मेट्रो के किराए बहुत ज्यादा है लोगों के निजी वाहनों के सड़क पर आने से दिल्ली की जनता जाम और प्रदूषण की समस्या से जूझ रही है जिसकी हर तरह से जिम्मेदार भाजपा और उसका अड़ियल रवैया है।

AAP PRESS CONFERENCE ON DELHI METRO FARES | 28th APRIL 2019

BJP Central Govt conspired against Delhi People & increased Pollution and traffic Congestion – Saurabh Bharadwaj

Central Govt forced 15 lacs extra people per DAY on Delhi Roads – Saurabh Bharadwaj

Delhi Metro most expensive Metro in the world – Saurabh Bharadwaj

Two years back, between May and October 2017, Delhi Metro under pressure from BJP-ruled Central Government had doubled the fares of Delhi metro within 6 months. AAP had opposed this move tooth and nail because we knew this would hit the masses and cause decline in metro ridership and thereby increase congestion and pollution. Two years have now passed, and it’s time to take stock of what really happened.

1. DelhiMetroRidershiphastakenahistorichit–it’s3lakhslowerthanthe ridership in March 2017 and overall 15 lakhs lower than the target at the end of Phase III completion

a. TheridershipofDelhiMetrowas28lakhsperdayinMarch2017 whereas it was only 25 lakhs per day in December 2018 – drop of 3 lakhs per day.

b. During this period, the actual length of Delhi Metro has dramatically increased from 212 km to 327 kms i.e. increase by 55%. This includes many interchanges that were supposed to substantially increase the convenience of traveling in Delhi Metro

c. The target ridership at the end of Delhi Metro Phase III construction, which formed the entire basis for its financial model and receiving approvals, was 40 lakhs per day. Since we are now at the end of Phase III, we are today short by 15 lakhs per day of ridership.

d. All of these points make it clear that the fare hike was a total disaster – it brought down ridership to a historic low, it made a joke of all financial planning of Delhi metro and it pushed people to use personal vehicles thereby increasing congestion and air pollution.

2. The much maligned BUS system of Delhi (DTC + Cluster buses) stands in sharp contrast to this havoc unlashed by BJP’s Central government on Delhi Metro through Fare Hike

a. AAP government has successfully maintained the same level of fares of Delhi’s buses as they were since 2009. In fact, it has increased the convenience of traveling by introducing COMMON MOBILITY CARD (called as ONE card), through which a further 10% discount can be availed.

b. While4000newbuses(1000standardfloorCNG,2000lowfloorCNG and 1000 low floor electric) are in different phases of procurement, Delhi government has efficiently managed the existing fleet of 5,681 buses (DTC + Cluster). Over the last two years, in the period when Delhi Metro ridership fell by 3 lakhs per day, without any increase in fleet of buses the ridership of Delhi’s buses increased by 2 lakhs per day – from 40 lakhs to 42 lakhs per day.

c. Many other initiatives have been taken by Delhi government to make Delhi’s bus system world class – decision to bring 1000 electric buses, Common Mobility Card, Scientific route rationalisation (CONNECT DELHI), construction of modern bus terminals, opening up GPS data of Cluster buses via Open Transit Data platform etc.

d. This shows the commitment of AAP government to providing world class public transport to people of Delhi

3. WayForwardforDelhiMetroFares

a. There needs to be a complete overhaul of the PROCESS and LOGIC

determining changes in Delhi Metro Fares

b. IntermsofPROCESS,Delhi’selectedCMandTransportMinister

should have a substantial say in determining the final fares. At present, a Fare Revision Committee comprising of a retired judge and two bureaucrats determine what should be the fare of Delhi Metro. What is their competence in taking such decisions? Nowhere in the world is such a process followed. We STRONGLY recommend a two- step process, similar to what exists for determining Parking fees under Delhi’s draft Parking Policy:

i. A Technical Committee comprising of Delhi govt and DMRC officials, Transport experts and Transport Economists should arrive at a set of recommendations

ii. An Apex Committee headed by Transport Minister of Delhi govt and including MD, DMRC and Govt of India nominee should take final decision on the recommendations.

c. In terms of LOGIC, it seems the only criteria for fixing fares seems to be balancing the accounts of Delhi Metro – matching the expenses with revenues. This is crude and followed nowhere in the world. Public transport systems have tremendous positive effect on the city – they increase access to opportunities, reduce pollution and play a huge role in improving economic growth. Therefore, in many of the

best metro systems in the world, fares are subsidised and kept in line

with the affordability and wages of the masses.

d. A simple comparison of the highest roundtrip fare in the city metro

with minimum wages in major cities tells how DELHI METRO has the most unaffordable fares in the world – twice as unaffordable as the next one (Singapore) and three times unaffordable when compared to some of the most extensive metro systems in the world — Beijing, New York City and Paris.

e. Going forward, the logic used by Singapore should be the one that even the DELHI METRO should use while fixing its fares. It should be ensured that the monthly public transport expenditure for poorest 20% families should not cross a threshold – say 5%. In Singapore, this ratio is decreased in last 10 years from 4.1% to 2.7%. This ensure fares increase in line with wage increases, else the poor won’t be able to afford DELHI METRO.

f. In addition, concessional passes must be issued for Students, Senior Citizens and Economically Weaker Sections – just like what Singapore and other large cities around the world do. This is also one of the promises AAP has made under its Lok Sabha manifesto on steps it promises if Delhi gets full statehood, and therefore more direct control on DELHI METRO.

Thanks

Saurabh Bharadwaj