December 07, 2001

        Minister for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Shri Ananth Kumar said that the development works would be speeded up all over Delhi. Inaugurating the "Major Somnath Sharma Memorial Park", here today, Shri Ananth Kumar emphasised that benefits of development works should reach the poor and the common man and not limited to posh colonies only.

        The Minister further said that removal of encroachment is a part of the development process and therefore no land, which is meant for public utilities and right of way, will be allowed to be encroached. "Wherever there are encroachments on places of public utility, the same will be removed to facilitate development," he added.

        Stressing that the Government is responsive to the needs and requirements of the residents, Shri Ananth Kumar stated that the construction of Samaj Sadans in R.K.Puram would fulfill the long pending needs of not only the residents of the colony but also the residents of adjoining areas.

        The Minister further pointed out that the new buildings would abide by the relevant National Building Codes concerning disaster resistant features.

        "I am sure you all will agree with me that the safety of not only our generation but also the future generations lie in the way we build our buildings and habitats today. The structural design of Samaj Sadans takes into consideration the latest requirements for making the building earthquake resistant", he added.

        Shri Ananth Kumar also stated that Major Somnath Sharma Memorial Park, named after Major Somnath Sharma, first officer of the Indian Army to be honoured with the Param Vir Chakra, would keep the memory of our brave soldiers alive for future generations. The Park would also be a boon to the residents of a large number of colonies in the neighbourhood who had earlier to go to a distant place for getting a puff of fresh air.

        Later, Member of Parliament Shri V. K. Malhotra laid the Foundation Stone of Boundary Wall at Sector –7, R. K.Puram, New Delhi. Smt. Vasundhara Raje, Minister of State for Small Scale Industries, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension, Planning and Atomic Energy & Space laid the Foundation Stone of Samaj Sadan, at Sector-5, R.K. Puram, New Delhi. Shri Bandaru Dattatraya, Minister of State for Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation laid the Foundation Stone of Samaj Sadan at Sector –4, R.K. Puram, New Delhi.