Truck extracting water

On 22 May 2009, I found this truck extracting water, purportedly for horticulture purposes, with permission from PWD officials. This was on 22 May. Caught it in the evening while returning home; called the Police at 100, and Anu ji and Jyoti ji as well, to see if they were free to come down. Anu ji came down, and gave me some much needed moral support – honestly I was a little nervous, as the owners of the truck had reached there from Saket (and I was expecting some nasty exchanges and perhaps worse), even while the Police were lost in tracing Nuclear Science Center and Neela Hauz lake – they eventually called me nearly 45-50 minutes after my first call at 100, from Mehrauli Thana (I think it was Jyoti ji’s call to them to take aciton), asking me *where this place was* (I must stop being too critical of Delhi Police; two cops in their private car, recently saved lives of 4 people of my friends’ family caught in a very severe car accident near Behrod).

Meanwhile see the pictures below:

The same pics with my comments are also available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/srijanfoundation.

Neela Hauz :: Background of the citizens’ campaign

The CNN IBN team which came to shoot this campaign by the resident’s of Vasant Kunj, led by the NGOs Tapas and Force, asked me to help them with a shoot laying out background of the campaign using my mobile itself.

Here’s my Citizen Journalism instinct in action, which actually lays down the key challenges in restoration of the lake after filling. The citizens’ group is all for the bridge and development – we just would like the lake restored to its original beauty atleast, if not improved.

The report:

Neela Hauz :: Citizen Action

On 20th July citizens of Vasant Kunj gathered together to increase awareness about the Neela Hauz, and submit a proposal to the Delhi Government to form a citizens-committee to monitor the construction and post-construction restoration of the lake to its original glory.

For pictures of the action, please visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/srijanfoundation.

Here are some pictures and videos from the action that happened: