News / Author / Vibha Sharma

Vibha Sharma

Vibha Sharma covers municipal bodies in Delhi. A journalist for almost a decade, she has also worked for the hyper-local editions of Hindustan Times, covering civic concerns in south Delhi, Gurgaon, and Ghaziabad.

Articles by Vibha Sharma

Now, apply for passport, PAN card, Aadhaar at NDMC’s ‘common service kiosk’

A NDMC official said 15 more ‘common service kiosks’ where Delhi residents can apply for facilities such as passport, PAN card, Aadhaar card, would be opened by March 2019 in busy sections such as Connaught Place, Gol Dak Khana and a few Metro stations.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor, Anil Baijal with Meenakshi Lekhi, Chairman of NDMC Naresh Kumar, after inaugurating the Common Services Center (CSC) Kiosk at Minto Road, in New Delhi, on Tuesday, October 16, 2018.(Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)

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Published on Oct 17, 2018 02:22 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma, New Delhi

South Delhi corporation to start de-sealing process of commercial units from Monday

The civic agency has prepared a set of guidelines to be followed by the owners whose commercial units were sealed. These will be presented before the civic body’s standing committee for approval on Monday.

File photo of a sealed shop in South Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar IV.(Vipin Kumar/HT File Photo)

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Updated on Oct 15, 2018 10:59 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

South Delhi corporation to help Durga Puja committees dig artificial ponds for idol immersion

The decision to dig artificial ponds for idol immersion during Durga Puja in South Delhi was taken after a meeting of concerned officials.

A Durga idol being immersed in an artificial pond created by a CR Park Puja Committee in 2017.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Oct 15, 2018 10:51 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

East Delhi to stink this Navratri as tonnes of garbage pile up

Top corporation officials are saying that even if all 16,000 of the ‘safai karamcharis’ resume work immediately, it will take at least 10 days to clean up the mess that has already piled up.

Sanitation workers have refused to end their strike, even as east Delhi’s roads are full of garbage.(Sushil Kumar/HT Photo)

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Updated on Oct 09, 2018 08:28 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma and Ashish Mishra

One more diphtheria death reported in Delhi, toll now 26

Doctors blame lack of vaccination, delay in treatment, humid weather, misinformation for rise in cases.

Over the last month, 26 children have died due to diphtheria in Delhi - 25 in a NDMC-run hospital in north Delhi and one at a state-run Lok Nayak hospital. (Photo used for representational purposes only)(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Oct 01, 2018 11:10 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

North and south Delhi civic bodies miss date to issue unique property IDs

The North and South civic bodies have failed in their efforts to bring all properties in their respective jurisdiction under tax net.

During a standing committee meeting last week, a North Corporation official said that they will need at least two months more to bring all residential and commercial properties under the tax net.(HT/Photo for representation)

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Published on Sep 28, 2018 03:50 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

North Delhi civic body to survey buildings in Sawan Park after collapse

On Thursday, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s engineer-in-chief Vijay Prakash issued a circular directing all executive engineers to revisit all houses in their areas.

Four children and two women were killed and at least six others were injured, two of them critically, after a five-storey building collapsed in northwest Delhi’s Sawan Park near Ashok Vihar Phase-3 on Wednesday morning.(Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

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Published on Sep 28, 2018 02:51 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Delhi building collapse: Landlord didn’t allow us to vacate, says survivor

Vimlesh Kumar, a mason who lost his two sons – Sumnesh,12, and Rajnesh,4 — blamed his landlord, identified by his single name Dharmendra, for the tragedy, alleging he had not been allowing them to vacate the building

Rescuers carry a survivor amidst the rubble after a building collapsed in New Delhi, India, September 26, 2018.(REUTERS)

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Published on Sep 27, 2018 01:52 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByKarn Pratap Singh and Vibha Sharma

Delhi building collapse: Visited structure but it was not dangerous, says municipal body

Constructed 25 years ago, the building was dilapidated. Local residents alleged they had filed several complaints with the North Delhi Municipal Corporation but the agency didn’t take any action

Rescue workers carry out the operation after a three-storey building collapsed at Ashok Vihar, in northwest Delhi, India, on Wednesday September 26, 2018.(Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)

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Published on Sep 27, 2018 01:48 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma and Risha Chitlangia

Building collapse in Delhi: Structure tilted year ago, no one paid heed

Locals said the ‘tilted’ building had leaned against a dried tree. Heavy rain in the past four days caused the dead tree to fall on Wednesday, immediately after which the tilted building came crashing down.

Members of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) search for victims after a building collapsed in New Delhi on September 26, 2018.(AFP)

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Updated on Sep 27, 2018 10:27 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByKarn Pratap Singh and Vibha Sharma, New Delhi

13 roads in Delhi on civic body’s list for beautification

These 13 roads include the Tilak Marg, Firoz Shah road, Abdul Kalam road, Baba Kharak Singh marg, Tolstoy marg, Aurbindo marg, Janpath, Kasturba Gandhi road, Barakhamba road and the Sansad marg.

Besides revamping these roads, the NDMC is also renovating public spaces along the stretches.(HT Photo)

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Published on Sep 26, 2018 03:54 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Delhi’s Basant Lok market to get amphitheatre, parking lots in Rs 10-crore makeover

Basant Lok market, constructed in the 1970s, was once one of the most happening hangout zones of Delhi.

The market, constructed in 1970s, had broken walkways and choked drains. Also, there were no fire safety arrangements. It prompted the traders to approach the DDA for getting the market renovated.(HT Photo)

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Published on Sep 25, 2018 03:50 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Old Delhi haveli owners express concern over ‘heritage’ status

Several haveli owners complained they had “not been made partners” during the policy-making process for preservation. They claimed the havelis has been handed over “heritage” tags by civic authorities without their consultation.

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Published on Sep 23, 2018 02:41 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma, New Delhi

SDMC sanitation workers not getting EPF for over a year, says Cong leader

EPF is a mandatory contribution made by an individual as well as her employer every month, as per the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Act, 1952.

Last year, sanitation workers in east Delhi went on an indefinite strike over issues such as not getting salaries.(HT FILE PHOTO)

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Updated on Sep 21, 2018 01:51 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma, New Delhi

Diphtheria kills 12 children in 13 days in two Delhi govt hospitals

Diphtheria is a contagious bacterial infection that affects the mucous membranes of the throat and nose.

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Updated on Sep 21, 2018 09:33 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

North Delhi civic body to have new rates for ads on taxis

Now, app-based cab aggregators have entered the business and they want their vehicles to be registered in bulk. But North municipal body’s present policy has no provision for collecting tax in bulk.

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation will soon come out with new rates for collection of taxes from private taxi operators who display advertisements on their vehicles.(Ravi Choudhary/ Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Sep 20, 2018 02:18 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Smart cameras to identify toll tax defaulters in Delhi

South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has decided to strengthen its ongoing radio frequency identification device (RFID) project by using high-definition cameras that can spot fleeing vehicles.

Traffic jam at Kherki Daula Toll Plaza, in Gurgaon, India, on Wednesday, August 07, 2013.(HT File Photo)

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Published on Sep 18, 2018 03:13 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma, New Delhi

South Delhi civic body plans to hike one-time parking charge, new vehicles may cost 2% more

If approved, the one-time parking charge for vehicles costing up to Rs 4 lakh will increase three-fold — from Rs 2,000 to Rs 6,000. For cars priced between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 8 lakh, SDMC will propose to levy Rs 10,000; and for vehicles worth above Rs 40 lakh, it proposes to levy Rs 75,000.

Currently, SDMC charges Rs 4,000 as one-time parking charges on all vehicles above Rs 4 lakh.(Picture for representation)

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Published on Sep 12, 2018 03:20 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

MCDs get central funds to combat air pollution, will spend it on green drive

The union ministry for housing and urban affairs allocated Rs 35 crore each to the north, south and east Delhi municipal corporations. Civic officials said the fund would be used to buy water sprinklers, plant saplings and shrubs and build vertical gardens in markets, roundabouts, roads and schools.

Air pollution is a major problem in the Capital in winter. In the past, alarming levels of pollution forced the government to ban construction activities, shut schools and implement the odd-even car rationing policy to bring down pollution levels.(Burhaan Kinu/HT File Photo)

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Updated on Sep 11, 2018 07:13 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Delhi’s North,South corporation eateries may have to declare ‘jhatka-halal meat’

The north and south civic corporations have decided to come up with a proposal that makes it mandatory for restaurants in their jurisdiction to put up boards specifying if they are serving halal or ‘jhatka’ meat

Shops open at Jama Masjid meat market, in Old Gurgaon, India.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Sep 10, 2018 03:19 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

After 10-yr wait, Rani Jhansi flyover to be opened by September-end

Work on the 1.6-km-long flyover, which starts near St Stephen’s Hospital and runs till Filmistan Cinema, started in 2008.

The Rani Jhansi grade separator was conceived in 1998. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

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Updated on Sep 05, 2018 02:47 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Only nine fines for not cleaning dog poop in five months

The Delhi government’s veterinary department says the sanitation department officials are finding it hard to catch the offenders because most people walk with their pets early in the morning or late at night when the staff members are not in field.

A woman takes her pet dog for a early morning walk in a park in New Delhi.(HT FILE PHOTO)

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Published on Sep 04, 2018 12:27 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Delhi traders beat ban with polybags stamped ‘approved’

The ban on the thin carry-bags was announced in August, 2017 by the National Green Tribunal, which ordered government and civic agencies to ensure strict implementation.

Bags less than 50 microns thick are harder to recycle and separate from trash, and often clog the drains.(Virendra Singh Gosain/HT PHOTO)

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Updated on Sep 02, 2018 09:40 AM IST

New Delhi | ByJoydeep Thakur and Vibha Sharma

North body to regularise 900 chabutras in Old Delhi

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation ‘s amnesty scheme for shopkeepers to regularise chabutras comes with a cost of twice the circle rate.

The amnesty scheme, if implemented, will help in generating around Rs 250-300 crore as regularisation charges(HT File Photo)

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Published on Sep 01, 2018 03:59 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Towering trash: Delhi garbage pile set to match Qutub Minar’s height

Two persons died when the Ghazipur landfill caved in last year. It’s now 65 metres tall, when the prescribed limit is 20 metres.

New Delhi, India - Sept. 5, 2017: Trucks dumping garbage at Ghazipur Landfill site in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday, September 5, 2017. (Photo by Ravi Choudhary/ Hindustan Times)(Ravi Choudhary/HT PHOTO)

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Updated on Aug 31, 2018 11:18 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

South Delhi traders fear sealing may not be reversed after Supreme Court scrutiny

On Thursday, SDMC had issued detailed guidelines for regularisation of commercial units in local markets in a move aimed at starting the process of desealing 921 shops in localities such as Hauz Khas, Defence Colony, Greater Kailash and Green Park, among others.

The shops had been sealed in the drive against land-use violations that was launched across Delhi last December.(HT File Photo)

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Published on Aug 25, 2018 02:59 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Meharchand, Amar Colony await de-sealing relief

The guidelines issued by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation to regularise commercial units in local markets will not bring any relief to shopkeepers in Amar Colony, Meharchand and Chattarpur marble markets as the new guidelines would apply only to local shopping complexes.

On January 10, basements and upper floors of at least 130 shops were being shut for violation of municipal laws.(HT/Picture for representation)

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Published on Aug 24, 2018 02:02 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

South Delhi seeks to reverse sealing drive in localities including Hauz Khas, Defence Colony, GK

Apart from south Delhi, sealing was also carried out by the east and north corporations, which conducted similar drives.

Delhi police sealing shops in Defence Colony.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Aug 24, 2018 08:38 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

North Delhi civic body on awareness drive to renovate havelis

The workshop is being organised in light of reports of increasing illegal constructions at these heritage buildings. Some of the matters related to unauthorised construction at these properties are being heard by the Delhi high court.

The Walled City has 783 heritage structures, including 229 historical buildings, indentified and notified by the state archaeology department.(HT/File Photo)

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Published on Aug 23, 2018 03:15 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

365 tonnes of non-recyclable plastic collected, says East Delhi civic body

The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) said it has collected 364.8 metric tonne of non-recyclable multi-layered plastic such as tobacco sachets and chips wrappers, which can’t be recycled, as part of a targeted collection drive in the last nine months.

The initiative was launched as a pilot scheme in November last year in collaboration with a non-government organisation Indian Pollution Control Association (IPCA) in order to ensure “scientific management and disposal of plastic waste”.(AFP/Picture for representation)

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Published on Aug 22, 2018 03:13 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

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Vibha Sharma

Vibha Sharma covers municipal bodies in Delhi. A journalist for almost a decade, she has also worked for the hyper-local editions of Hindustan Times, covering civic concerns in south Delhi, Gurgaon, and Ghaziabad.

A NDMC official said 15 more ‘common service kiosks’ where Delhi residents can apply for facilities such as passport, PAN card, Aadhaar card, would be opened by March 2019 in busy sections such as Connaught Place, Gol Dak Khana and a few Metro stations.

The civic agency has prepared a set of guidelines to be followed by the owners whose commercial units were sealed. These will be presented before the civic body’s standing committee for approval on Monday.

The decision to dig artificial ponds for idol immersion during Durga Puja in South Delhi was taken after a meeting of concerned officials.

Top corporation officials are saying that even if all 16,000 of the ‘safai karamcharis’ resume work immediately, it will take at least 10 days to clean up the mess that has already piled up.

Doctors blame lack of vaccination, delay in treatment, humid weather, misinformation for rise in cases.

The North and South civic bodies have failed in their efforts to bring all properties in their respective jurisdiction under tax net.

On Thursday, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s engineer-in-chief Vijay Prakash issued a circular directing all executive engineers to revisit all houses in their areas.

Vimlesh Kumar, a mason who lost his two sons – Sumnesh,12, and Rajnesh,4 — blamed his landlord, identified by his single name Dharmendra, for the tragedy, alleging he had not been allowing them to vacate the building

Constructed 25 years ago, the building was dilapidated. Local residents alleged they had filed several complaints with the North Delhi Municipal Corporation but the agency didn’t take any action

Locals said the ‘tilted’ building had leaned against a dried tree. Heavy rain in the past four days caused the dead tree to fall on Wednesday, immediately after which the tilted building came crashing down.

These 13 roads include the Tilak Marg, Firoz Shah road, Abdul Kalam road, Baba Kharak Singh marg, Tolstoy marg, Aurbindo marg, Janpath, Kasturba Gandhi road, Barakhamba road and the Sansad marg.

Basant Lok market, constructed in the 1970s, was once one of the most happening hangout zones of Delhi.

Several haveli owners complained they had “not been made partners” during the policy-making process for preservation. They claimed the havelis has been handed over “heritage” tags by civic authorities without their consultation.

EPF is a mandatory contribution made by an individual as well as her employer every month, as per the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Act, 1952.

Diphtheria is a contagious bacterial infection that affects the mucous membranes of the throat and nose.

Now, app-based cab aggregators have entered the business and they want their vehicles to be registered in bulk. But North municipal body’s present policy has no provision for collecting tax in bulk.

South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has decided to strengthen its ongoing radio frequency identification device (RFID) project by using high-definition cameras that can spot fleeing vehicles.

If approved, the one-time parking charge for vehicles costing up to Rs 4 lakh will increase three-fold — from Rs 2,000 to Rs 6,000. For cars priced between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 8 lakh, SDMC will propose to levy Rs 10,000; and for vehicles worth above Rs 40 lakh, it proposes to levy Rs 75,000.

The north and south civic corporations have decided to come up with a proposal that makes it mandatory for restaurants in their jurisdiction to put up boards specifying if they are serving halal or ‘jhatka’ meat

Work on the 1.6-km-long flyover, which starts near St Stephen’s Hospital and runs till Filmistan Cinema, started in 2008.

The Delhi government’s veterinary department says the sanitation department officials are finding it hard to catch the offenders because most people walk with their pets early in the morning or late at night when the staff members are not in field.

The ban on the thin carry-bags was announced in August, 2017 by the National Green Tribunal, which ordered government and civic agencies to ensure strict implementation.

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation ‘s amnesty scheme for shopkeepers to regularise chabutras comes with a cost of twice the circle rate.

Two persons died when the Ghazipur landfill caved in last year. It’s now 65 metres tall, when the prescribed limit is 20 metres.

On Thursday, SDMC had issued detailed guidelines for regularisation of commercial units in local markets in a move aimed at starting the process of desealing 921 shops in localities such as Hauz Khas, Defence Colony, Greater Kailash and Green Park, among others.

The guidelines issued by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation to regularise commercial units in local markets will not bring any relief to shopkeepers in Amar Colony, Meharchand and Chattarpur marble markets as the new guidelines would apply only to local shopping complexes.

Apart from south Delhi, sealing was also carried out by the east and north corporations, which conducted similar drives.

The workshop is being organised in light of reports of increasing illegal constructions at these heritage buildings. Some of the matters related to unauthorised construction at these properties are being heard by the Delhi high court.

The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) said it has collected 364.8 metric tonne of non-recyclable multi-layered plastic such as tobacco sachets and chips wrappers, which can’t be recycled, as part of a targeted collection drive in the last nine months.

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