DEF COL …. The so called “Posshh Kolony” of South Delhi may be prestigious address but the “real story is quite different from the perception. After living in the colony for more than five long decades, I have personally seen ups and downs of my colony which are as follows:
• The single-story plots (Approx. 1600) are now boasting of more than 6000 dwelling units called Floors; The population has also multiplied in the same ratio to more than 10000 plus floaters who visit our colony every day; The rental income now runs in Lacs per month for EACH FLOOR …There are many who left their jobs and business in their youth and enjoying much more on the Rentals!! The Greed for X’traa land has resulted in grabbing even public places by keeping big pots, creating huge shelters for personal guards, creating ramps, etc. Which has reduced the road size and footpaths by more than 50%?
• Almost all the parks are now “ornamental” to favor the elderly rather than providing space for kids and youngsters to play sports like cricket, football, hockey etc. In our youth we used to have the luxury of playing these sports anytime… now you have to pay to academy to play in a small sized miniature ground! Parks have also been captured by the local bosses (under PPP) who do not allow residents to use them for sports etc; some of them even charge “monthly fee” to use these public parks!!
• The street lights are in vulnerable condition and most of them are not working and people keep begging to the authorities to get them repaired!! Sewers are choked most of the times due to commercialization in more than 500 plots!! Roads have been in the worst condition for years!!
• More than 15-20 gates are open for the day to allow anyone and everyone to venture in the colony and execute any crime …theft, chain and bag snatching, burglary, car theft, murder etc …we have seen them all very frequently!! Police is also helpless due to lack of manpower as per the population of the colony.
Due to this population explosion in the colony, all the services are hampered which has resulted in poor collection of annual charges for the RWAs! it’s now lower than even 40% of the total number of floors, which has now become a big economic issue to provide basic 24 Hr security or to have security guards at the colony gates! The old chicken and egg story is quite visible as the non-payers are not happy with the RWA and vice versa! The RWA even doubled the annual charges for the residents who pay but the situation is same or say worst in the last few years!!
What are the solutions as per residents?
• It’s a hard decision but make entire def col a 24/7 a gated colony with only 1-2 manned gates open for each block for entry and exit as done in some other colonies! Once gated, we will need fewer security guards to keep Def col secure. Provide best possible security to the residents and then it will prompt them to start paying their annual charges to the RWA’s.
• Equip RWA’s with the active members (not the election winners who only fight elections to grab posts and threaten residents) who are (2-3 members for each activity) in-charge of security, sanitation, roads, parks, entertainment, street lights etc to coordinate with relevant authorities to provide prompt support and solutions to each and every complaint lodged by the residents. Once satisfied the paying members will be added with word of mouth and not by pressure!
• ALL Club members must pay the annual charges to use the club for all activities …This way annual charges will improve drastically to plan more and more facilities for the residents!
• Anyone building a new house has to pay a onetime amount to the RWA’s as the whole colony has to face the issue of big trucks, labour staying in service lanes. This will add Lacs of rupees to the RWA’s kitty as we observe more than 100 floors are getting constructed every year…For example if even 1 lac is taken for construction of each floor (which is worth 6-10 CR) then RWA may collect more than a crore!!
Lastly, it’s a humble request from the Team Samvada to all our residents to start paying annual charges to the RWA to strengthen them to provide you best of the services to make Def col liveable and enjoyable for us as well as our next generations!!
