Shahdara, Sanjay lakes in east Delhi to be restored

The revival of Shahdara lake, Sanjay Van lake and beautification of border areas are among the major projects planned for the area.

Development of east Delhi is likely to get a boost with the Delhi government reviving the Trans-Yamuna Area Development Board.

Sanjay Lake near Mayur Vihar phase-II in New Delhi. The lake will be beautified. (Sanjeev Verma/Hindustan Times)

The board met on September 2 under the chairmanship of Fateh Singh, AAP MLA from Mandoli village, to discuss development works.

The revival of Shahdara lake, Sanjay Van lake and beautification of border areas are among the major projects planned for the area.

“After the L-G’s approval, we will start reviewing development works in east Delhi. We asked the municipal corporation to submit reports on major pending projects. After scrutiny, we will provide funds for these projects,” said Singh.

On October 10, East Delhi Municipal Corporation commissioner called a meeting with senior officials and instructed them to prepare a detailed status report on projects to be sanctioned by the board.

“Though the project for reviving the Shahdara Jheel and a park on 62 acres of vacant land (surrounding the lake) was approved in 2012, it could not be completed due to paucity of funds,” said a senior EDMC official.

In phase I, EDMC had spent R4 crore for reviving the lake and filling it with treated water from a neighbouring drain. A plantation drive was also carried out.

The project was implemented by the National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), Pune, using the ‘phytorid wastewater treatment technology’.

Beautification work has also been planned for Sanjay Lake.

The objective is to develop these places as landmarks of East Delhi, which will be used as picnic spots.

The board

Formed in 1994 by the Delhi Government, the board played a vital role in infrastructure development and planned growth of trans-Yamuna localities.

It had been the main source of funding for the municipal corporation’s projects. The body used to sanction R 80 crore annually for developmental works.

But in 2013, the AAP government disbanded the board as the party was keen on implementing the Delhi Nagar Swaraj Bill that allowed citizens to approve such projects.

As a result, the EDMC cancelled all major projects sanctioned by the body. Projects such as redevelopment of the lake areas and construction of community centres, schools, dispensaries were cancelled.

Arvind Singh Lovely, former member of the Yamuna board said, “It was an immature decision to dissolve the board. It had done considerable work and changed the face of east Delhi, including construction of bridges, rail under bridges and projects related to the Common Wealth Games.”