Centre tells SC MPD 2021 provides for basic amenities

New Delhi, May 4 (UNI) The Centre today assured the Supreme Court in its affidavit that the new Master Plan, Delhi-2021 (MPD2021) clearly provides for improving and strengthening the infrastructure in the national capital to withstand the pressure of increasing population.

The MPD has envisaged that power demand in 2021 will be about 11000MW against the present availability of 3170 MW. Delhi TRANSCO Ltd has anticipated that availability of power in the city by 2011-2012 would be 11327 MW. A 400 KV ring has been established around Delhi to draw power from the Northern regional grid.

Besides this the government has entered into agreements with states like Orissa, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh which are having surplus power, during peak season.

On water front the government has said that with construction of dams in the upper reaches of river Yamuna, Delhi's consumptive allocation will be 808 cusecs and total allocation will be 2400 cusecs. Delhi Jal Board anticipates that by 2011 about 1140MGD potable water shall be required for the city. It is also stated that Delhi will have to essentially get 750MGD of water to meet its total requirements of 1380MGD by 2021.

Public transport system will also be improved to reduce the pressure of traffic on roads in Delhi and network of Delhi metro with feeder services will be widened and strengthened. The problem of waterlogging in low lying areas which was reported from 341 locations in the city.

Space for parking will also be increased and other public conveniences such as schools, parks and recreation centres will also be provided on a large scale. Drainage and Sewrage system and solid waste collection system in the city will also be vastly improved as the total population of the city is likely to go up to 220 lakhs by 2021. The government was directed by the apex court to give details of how it would provide infrastructure and basis amenities in the city while implementing MPD2021 which protects almost all the illegal constructions in the city besides permitted mixed land use in most of the areas of the city and regularises about 1500 unauthorised colonies spread all over the city. The top court is examining the new master plan which is under challenge from the RWAs and other organisations in the city.

UNI