Last Update: March 14, 2023, 09:04 AM IST
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had asked the traders to fund the repairs but they refused. (Representational Image: Reuters/File)
The entire renovation will cost around Rs 10 crore, an NDMC official said on Monday, adding that various proposals are being discussed to get the funds which include CSR funding and sponsorship from private organisations.
Officials said the New Delhi Municipal Council’s plan to beautify Connaught Place, the heart of the city, in view of the G20 events has been stuck for several months.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had asked traders to contribute funds for repairs, but they refused, saying the civic body should use the money collected as taxes.
However, the NDMC said they could not fund the renovation as “it is not their market”.
The entire renovation will cost around Rs 10 crore, an NDMC official said on Monday, adding that various proposals are being discussed to get the funds which include CSR funding from private organizations and sponsorship.
“We were looking to renovate all the markets in our area keeping in mind the G20 events, including markets in NDMC like Begum Zaidi. But we cannot use public money to renovate the clamshell market. An NDMC official said, “We asked the traders to contribute funds for the beautification of the market, but they refused.”
“It is also clear that NDMC cannot do the renovation. So we are looking at other ways of funding.”
The historic market was last renovated before the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Now it needs whitewashing as the paint has peeled off at many places. The pillars of the area are also stained with betel-juice and gutkha. In addition, the facade lighting that was installed in 2010 needed immediate attention.
“During the Commonwealth Games, 2010, the NDMC had taken the budget from the government for the whitewash work,” the official said.
Traders say that many types of beautification work are needed in the market including whitewashing, repair of streets, removal of shrubs and changing lighting.
“First of all, the trees around the munder need pruning. After this the building should be whitewashed. We cannot do that because there is a process to do it and it is cumbersome. Atul Bhargava, president of the New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA), said they (NDMC) should finance the renovation work using the money they are collecting as tax from traders.
The traders have claimed that they have written several letters to the NDMC and it is also discussed that a big corporate house has been requested to do the cleaning and whitewashing work “at their own cost”.
Bhargava said, “We have been assured several times.”
India took over the presidency of the G20 on December 1 last year. During this period, more than 200 meetings will be held at 55 locations across the country. It will culminate with a summit in the national capital in September this year. PTI VA KVK SZM
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)