Rann Singh Chhikara, the pradhan of North-west Delhi's Jaunti village, is on cloud nine these days. The reason for his happiness is the Union government’s ‘Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojna', under which the area parliamentarian, Udit Raj, has adopt Jaunti and promised to turn it into a model village.
On Monday, Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu unveiled the “strategic development plan” for the village, which includes renovation of a 400-year-old Shikaargah (hunting lodge) built for Emperor Shahjahan and the pond adjoining it.
“Some of the houses in the village still retain the old traditional character with courtyards and entrance arches. The houses also have reoccurring colour schemes with some painted in blue while others in pink and white. These will be preserved,” said Ramesh Menon, one of the project directors.
The project is estimated to cost about Rs. 35 crore and will largely depend on corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities by various companies.
The village chowks will be developed into open spaces with performance areas like folk dance, puppet show, sitting space, street art, exhibition space, parking space and directional and information signages.
Heritage trails would be created from Jaunti bus stop to the Shikaargah.
“The area around the ancient Mughal talaab (pond) forms an ideal spot for tourism development as it has a scenic value and is surrounded by gram sabha land. We have planned an entrance plaza, a ticketing counter, an administrative block, food court, craft bazaar, artist’s residences and dormitory, multi-purpose pavilion, a sculpture court, open air theatre and a walkway around the talaab,” Mr. Raj said. He “hoped” the project would be complete by December.
The village was promised a hospital in 1978, but that has not been fulfilled yet.
Mr. Chhikara is certain that the hospital will finally be built now. “The nearest hospital is 22 km away. We do not even have a health centre. MP Udit Raj while showing us the proposal had said that he would build a hospital,” the village pradhan said.
Mr. Raj said a hospital would be built, but only if the Delhi government cooperates.
“We have received support from individuals in the country and abroad and even from private companies. But no support has come from the Delhi government despite us following up several times. A 200-bed hospital is to be built by them,” he said.
