Monday, April 30, 2007

a colonial document on Patpargunj, Delhi

"Final Report of the Delhi Town Planning Committee: Regarding the Selected
Site with Plan and Two Maps", Presented to Both Houses of Parliament by
Command of His Majesty, London, Published by His Majesty's Stationary
Office, 1913. This is available in National Archives Library, Delhi.
The contents are
1. Preliminary
2.A Special Report on the North Site
3. Principles to be kept in view
4.Description of the South Site
5. Description of the Lay-Out
6. Recommendations in Regard to the Treatment of Special Points
I. Water Supply and Irrigation
II. Storm Water Drainage
III. Sewage System and Refuge Destruction
IV. Communication
a. Railways
b. Roads, Their Construction and Surfaces
c. Tramways
d. Diversion of Traffic
e. Thorough Traffic Routes
V. Parks and Open Spaces
VI. Arboriculture
VII. River Treatment and Water Effect
VIII. Develpment and Control
7. The Newly Appointed Committee Who Will Carry Out the Construction
8. Maps and Plans
9. The Help Which Committee has Received"

As it is clear from the title ( Final Report)the report mentions a "sperate
report on town planning" . I will try to find out this report as it is of
vital significance for any study of modern Delhi. Would be very thankfull
if any of you provide clue.
I did not find much time to go through this final report but let me cite
something interesting from it. It is about a locality, Patparganj.

" ... In paragraph 10 of their report the committee ( on the town planning
of the new imperial capital) recommended the acquisition of the suburb of
Patparganj, and in a tentative lay-out, which they put forward, it was
condemned for demolition. On the receipt of the estimates of the land
acquisition officer it was deiscovered that this suburb, although
admittedly of poor character and appearance and insanitary, contained
15,000 inhabitants and was valued at a very large sum. This discovery
raised serious complications; and the committee were informed that the
Government of India did not see their way to sanction its immediate
demolition. It was held that it would be easier to deal with this area by
including it in a general scheme for the improvement of the present city,
the expenditure being spread over a number of years. The Committee were
accordingly instructed to consider the possibility of aliging the main axis
of their lay-out in a more easterly direction.
The Committee realise that the compulsory removal of great masses of
population is difficult matter requiring much care and tact; but they
received with regret the news that Patparganj must remain for the present.
It is today a poor class property; but occupies such an advantageous
position that it must rise in value".

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