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The Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC), in a recent meeting with Delhi government officials, presented a proposal to revamp Lado Sarai with plans of introducing bio-digester systems, sewage treatment plants, parking sites and underpasses apart from additional features like setting up exhibition centres, a flower market, a museum complex and studio apartments.
The proposal has been sent to the government with a request to set up a team to work out the implementation aspects based on suggestions from residents of Lado Sarai.
According to DUAC officials, Lado Sarai was chosen for the project owing to its “interesting mix” of indigenous people — original land owners, migrants, tenants and the recent influx of designers and artists — who add a cosmopolitan character to the area. The area is also located in a historically significant setting with “remnants from ancient imperial cities”.
Officials claimed that the study began with seeking suggestions from residents on what facilities they needed in the area.
“The infrastructure is inadequate even though the area attracts additional population. We spoke to the residents who said they didn’t have proper sewage treatment in the area and that, owing to the increasing number of people, there was no parking space and the area was too congested. This has in turn led to unsanitary conditions in the village. Planned development, therefore, needs to focus on improving the environmental conditions while encouraging new buildings on the vacant fringe land. This would in turn provide facilities which will ease congestion in the village,” a senior DUAC official said.
Officials said the focus is also on creating open public spaces and providing social amenities. The proposal has stressed on reviving indigenous systems of water management and rejuvenating public spaces.
According to a survey by the department recently, the area’s storm water drains were found to be only half complete while there are no planned sewer lines.
For this, the department has proposed the introduction of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) with bio-digester systems. “The old method of centralised system for sewage needs self-cleaning to carry sludge through the pipes. It requires a lot of water to drain solid waste from the village to the STP for treatment which is difficult owing to the non-availability of huge quantity of water. On the other hand, a bio-digester system does the treatment in a decentralised manner, which makes it more manageable. Additionally, the system is cheaper when implemented on a large scale,” an official said.
During the meeting, DUAC explained how its role was limited to conducting concept design studies and that it could not take up the implementation of the project. However, officials assured that the government would help in the implementation of the project.