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

Malaria cases likely to rise, south Delhi civic staff to work on weekends

SDMC mayor Narendra Chawla said despite the relatively low number of malaria cases this year, the civic agency is expecting the number cases to increase from last year due to the stronger than usual monsoon.

SDMC, which is the nodal agency for collecting data for Delhi-NCR, said at least 43 cases of malaria have been reported across Delhi in the first 18 days of August. This takes the number of people affected by the vector-borne disease in the city so far this year to 131.(File Photo)

cities

Published on Aug 22, 2018 02:15 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Door-to-door drive helps Delhi civic bodies collect Rs 119 crore more tax

Till August 14, the South and North Delhi municipal corporations jointly increased their tax collection by Rs 119.33 crore and added over 56,000 new tax payers to their records. The SDMC now has 20,000 new taxpayers and is aiming to increase the number by two lakh.

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation has increased its revenue collection through property tax by Rs 53 crore till July 31.(HT/Picture for representation)

cities

Published on Aug 21, 2018 04:43 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Delhi Development Authority trains civic officials to deal with encroachment complaints

The DDA-311 app was launched as a part of an action plan prepared by the special task force (STF) to deal with illegal construction and encroachments in Delhi. The plan was submitted to the Supreme Court on May 15.

Until last week, there were around 1,300 complaints received on the DDA-311 app but authorities failed to address any of them owing to lack of expertise and adequate training, a municipal official said.(Picture for representation)

cities

Updated on Aug 21, 2018 04:25 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

South Delhi malls may lose licences over parking fees

Last week, a warning to this effect was issued to commercial establishments in South Delhi and a team of officials asked to draw up a list of defaulters.

Parking fees at malls, hospitals and hotels vary between <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>40 and <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>200 depending on the duration. On weekends and public holidays, the charges are higher.(Mint File Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 19, 2018 07:51 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

NDMC raising ‘2nd generation’ of plants to replace heritage trees

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) said it will be raising a “second generation” of plants, which in future could replace the nearly century-old “heritage trees” — mainly neem and pilkhan — on the verge of collapse in Lutyens’ Delhi.

An informal discussion with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for transferring a 10-acre land near Yamuna for growing trees has already taken place.(Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Aug 19, 2018 03:54 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma, New Delhi

37 illegal factory units in east Delhi’s Vishwas Nagar sealed

The drive started after the monitoring committee visited the residential area on August 3 and found rampant violation of norms.

East Corporation officials sealed 37 units that were being run illegally in Vishwas Nagar, August 16, 2018.(Sonu Mehta / HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 17, 2018 12:31 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Delhi’s south civic body to install solar plants on top of covered drains

In a first in the city, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) is planning to install solar plants atop covered drains to generate green energy.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 6.88 crore.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 16, 2018 04:37 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Delhi civic agencies find easy solution for waste problem by burning it

The three civic agencies of Delhi have decided to take the easy way out when it comes to dealing with the problem of solid waste – produce energy by incinerating the garbage.

The EDMC is waiting for approval from the environment ministry to increase the capacity of the waste-to-energy plant in Okhla.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 16, 2018 04:32 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Cabs entering or leaving Delhi to not charge toll tax till Sept 13

Now that toll collection from commercial vehicles has been suspended, commuters made to pay in this regard can file complaints with South Delhi civic body, transport department or police.

App-based cab operators such as Ola said they implemented the order starting Sunday.(Ravi Choudhary/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 13, 2018 02:07 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Several polluting factories in North Delhi may be sealed soon

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation decided to initiate the sealing drive after September 29 in the light of an EPCA circular recommending that polluting units be made to use only select fuels approved and notified by the Delhi government.

Factories are a significant contributor to air pollution in the national capital.(HT File)

cities

Updated on Aug 13, 2018 01:50 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Vertical gardens planned at Delhi’s schools, markets and historical structures

The north Delhi municipal agency has financed the project from funds received under the Centre’s Swachhta Mission. It targets the beautification of 26 markets, 207 primary schools, 60 roads, five historical structures and two flyovers in the next three months.

A vertical garden at a North Corporation’s primary school at Miradard Road.(HT Photo)

cities

Published on Aug 09, 2018 12:24 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

To check call drop, North Delhi corporation will regularise 2,000 towers

In last seven years, the North corporation had sealed 127 of the 1,284 illegal towers for not complying with the rules of the Tower Policy, 2010, such as not obtaining structural safety certificate from the corporation.

The proposal to regularise mobile towers was taken in the backdrop of reports of frequent call drop in the area.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 08, 2018 10:13 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

North Delhi civic body seizes 572 licensed water trolleys for violating health norms

The tests, conducted by NDMC in the last six months, have shown the presence of element such as Escherichia coli (also known as E.coli,) bacteria, which can lead to diarrhea and absence of chlorine.

The samples of drinking water collected from 572 licensed water trolleys in the city have failed the safety parameters tests conducted by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC).(REpresentative Photo/HT PHOTO)

cities

Published on Aug 02, 2018 05:26 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

North Delhi Municipal Corporation to start work on waste-to-energy plant at Bhalswa by August end

Once functional, the Bhalswa plant will be Delhi’s fourth waste-to-energy plant — after Ghazipur, Narela-Bawana and Okhla.

The civic agency has awarded the contract to Essel Group, which will be establishing the plant on 12 acres, next to the Bhalswa landfill.(Sanchit Khanna/HT File)

cities

Published on Aug 01, 2018 03:45 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

South Delhi civic body to conduct second dog census in September

Of the three municipal corporations, only the south Delhi civic body has conducted a dog census so far.

The last survey conducted by the SDMC found the dog population in the area was 1,89,285, but only 64,837 dogs were sterilised.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Jul 30, 2018 09:55 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma, New Delhi

Air pollution sets back Delhi civic body’s smart parking project

The sensors installed by NDMC in August 2017 at busy surface parking lots in and around Connaught Place and other parts of central Delhi were supposed to tell drivers how many slots were vacant in a specific parking lot.

In August 2017, NDMC installed sensors at 35 ground-level parking lots which were meant to tell drivers how many parking slots were available in and around Connaught Place and other parts of central Delhi.(Mohd Zakir/HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Jul 28, 2018 03:17 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Delhi civic body will collect e-waste from doorstep, pay for it too

Around 90% of Delhi residents don’t know how to dispose of electronic waste, according to a 2016 study conducted by a non-governmental organisation Toxic Link.

People working at e-waste market at Seelampur in New Delhi.(Arijit Sen/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Jul 18, 2018 01:19 PM IST

ByVibha Sharma

Why Delhi goes under water every monsoon

A look at the main reasons Delhi comes to a standstill every time it rains in the city

Pedestrians stuck on a waterlogged street in New Delhi on Friday.(Arvind Yadav/HT PHOTO)

cities

Published on Jul 15, 2018 06:11 PM IST

ByVibha Sharma, New Delhi

Delhi to lose some wedding sheen this year as lack of auspicious dates pushes season to 2019

Most propitious dates have shifted to January and February due to a change in planetary positions, said Jaigovind Shastri, a Delhi-based astrologer.

A peek into wedding shopping at Delhi’s Inderlok market.(Manoj Verma/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Jul 12, 2018 09:17 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma and Soumya Pillai

Two months after anti-encroachment drive, Delhi roads are choked again

At seven stretches in Delhi where spot checks were carried out, the pavements had been reoccupied by hawkers and cars were parked illegally, blocking the flow of traffic.

A view of Khari Baoli in New Delhi. The South Delhi Municipal Corporation along with the Delhi Traffic Police and the New Delhi Municipal Council had carried out one of the city’s biggest anti-encroachment drives in May.(Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Jul 11, 2018 11:42 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma and Soumya Pillai

South Delhi jumps from 202 to 32 rank in nationwide cleanliness survey

While North Delhi Municipal Corporation improved its last year’s position of 279 to 206, East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) slipped from 196 to 341 in the rankings, the survey showed.

The urban local bodies were surveyed between January and March and ranked under different categories based on their population.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Jun 24, 2018 12:44 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

North Delhi civic body to build stack parking lots for 20k vehicles by June 2021

North Corporation has the largest area under its jurisdiction, and some of the city’s most populated and busiest markets such as Karol Bagh, Chawri Bazar, Chandni Chowk and Pitampura come under the area in its jurisdiction.

A parking lot at Connaught Place.(Mohd Zakir/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Jun 17, 2018 07:22 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Two fixed parking slots per home as project to unclog Delhi begins

The project is part of Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal’s Parking Management Area Plan (PMAP), which was launched early this year to decongest residential colonies across Delhi

A labourer paints a line on a road for making a boundary for parking at Lajpat Nagar II in New Delhi , India, on Monday, June 11, 2018.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Jun 12, 2018 07:36 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

World Environment Day: How plastic bag ban ended up in the garbage

Even as Delhi observes yet another World Environment Day, the city is overflowing with plastic bags.

Plastic bags, measuring less than 50 microns, are banned in Delhi and, yet, markets are overflowing with them.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Jun 05, 2018 12:16 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma and Joydeep Thakur

Steel ‘sprouts’ near AIIMS in South Delhi set to be dismantled

The 35-feet high stainless steel work -- eight big stainless steel sprouts -- was created in 2008 created by artist Vibhor Sogani near the Kidwai Nagar Redevelopment Project.

The eight stainless steel installations will be replaced by a water fountain.(Sanjeev Verma/HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on May 21, 2018 07:39 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

With no concrete plan, agencies fail to check return of squatters in Delhi

The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act contains provisions to take stringent action against the owners of shops that are caught for having built illegal extensions, blocking public passage, and causing pollution.

EDMC officials remove encroachments and demolishes some shops at Mangal Bazar in Laxmi Nagar, New Delhi.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on May 16, 2018 11:42 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma and Soumya Pillai

In Delhi, crackdown on illegally parked cars at Nizamuddin roundabout

The operation, which began on Tuesday evening and was carried out by the special task force constituted on the orders of the Supreme Court to tackle encroachment across the national capital, also targeted eight unlicensed vends.

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) cleared encroachments near Sabz Burj Nizamuddin Dargah in New Delhi on Wednesday.(Burhaan Kinu/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on May 09, 2018 10:57 PM IST

New Delhi, Hindustan Times | ByVibha Sharma, New Delhi

Delhi officials target illegally parked cars, squatters that came back

Encroachers had built new structures on the pavements along Vivekanand Marg and Church Road in RK Puram.

Encroachments by shop owners and street hawkers at Sarojini Nagar Market in New Delhi.(Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on May 06, 2018 10:23 PM IST

New Delhi, Hindustan Times | ByVibha Sharma, New Delhi

75 shops targeted during crackdown on squatters by SDMC

On Friday, the anti-encroachment drive was undertaken at Feroze Gandhi Road, Veer Savarkar Marg, Krishna Market and surrounding areas. Officials said that around three kilometre of road was cleared for the use of pedestrians.

Authorities carry out demolition of illegal structures at Sadar Bazar in New Delhi on Friday.(PTI Photo)

cities

Updated on May 05, 2018 08:19 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByVibha Sharma

Anti-encroachment drive: Action on illegally parked cars sees no acceleration

Experts said parking on roadsides was the biggest cause of congestion on Delhi’s roads and turning a blind eye to that would render the ongoing drive futile.

Vehicles parked on the both sides of Aurobindo Marg cause a huge traffic jam, in New Delhi.(Burhaan Kinu/HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on May 05, 2018 07:28 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | BySoumya Pillai and Vibha Sharma

Copy

Whatsapp Twitter Facebook Linkedin

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.

SDMC mayor Narendra Chawla said despite the relatively low number of malaria cases this year, the civic agency is expecting the number cases to increase from last year due to the stronger than usual monsoon.

Till August 14, the South and North Delhi municipal corporations jointly increased their tax collection by Rs 119.33 crore and added over 56,000 new tax payers to their records. The SDMC now has 20,000 new taxpayers and is aiming to increase the number by two lakh.

The DDA-311 app was launched as a part of an action plan prepared by the special task force (STF) to deal with illegal construction and encroachments in Delhi. The plan was submitted to the Supreme Court on May 15.

Last week, a warning to this effect was issued to commercial establishments in South Delhi and a team of officials asked to draw up a list of defaulters.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) said it will be raising a “second generation” of plants, which in future could replace the nearly century-old “heritage trees” — mainly neem and pilkhan — on the verge of collapse in Lutyens’ Delhi.

The drive started after the monitoring committee visited the residential area on August 3 and found rampant violation of norms.

In a first in the city, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) is planning to install solar plants atop covered drains to generate green energy.

The three civic agencies of Delhi have decided to take the easy way out when it comes to dealing with the problem of solid waste – produce energy by incinerating the garbage.

Now that toll collection from commercial vehicles has been suspended, commuters made to pay in this regard can file complaints with South Delhi civic body, transport department or police.

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation decided to initiate the sealing drive after September 29 in the light of an EPCA circular recommending that polluting units be made to use only select fuels approved and notified by the Delhi government.

The north Delhi municipal agency has financed the project from funds received under the Centre’s Swachhta Mission. It targets the beautification of 26 markets, 207 primary schools, 60 roads, five historical structures and two flyovers in the next three months.

In last seven years, the North corporation had sealed 127 of the 1,284 illegal towers for not complying with the rules of the Tower Policy, 2010, such as not obtaining structural safety certificate from the corporation.

The tests, conducted by NDMC in the last six months, have shown the presence of element such as Escherichia coli (also known as E.coli,) bacteria, which can lead to diarrhea and absence of chlorine.

Once functional, the Bhalswa plant will be Delhi’s fourth waste-to-energy plant — after Ghazipur, Narela-Bawana and Okhla.

Of the three municipal corporations, only the south Delhi civic body has conducted a dog census so far.

The sensors installed by NDMC in August 2017 at busy surface parking lots in and around Connaught Place and other parts of central Delhi were supposed to tell drivers how many slots were vacant in a specific parking lot.

Around 90% of Delhi residents don’t know how to dispose of electronic waste, according to a 2016 study conducted by a non-governmental organisation Toxic Link.

A look at the main reasons Delhi comes to a standstill every time it rains in the city

Most propitious dates have shifted to January and February due to a change in planetary positions, said Jaigovind Shastri, a Delhi-based astrologer.

At seven stretches in Delhi where spot checks were carried out, the pavements had been reoccupied by hawkers and cars were parked illegally, blocking the flow of traffic.

While North Delhi Municipal Corporation improved its last year’s position of 279 to 206, East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) slipped from 196 to 341 in the rankings, the survey showed.

North Corporation has the largest area under its jurisdiction, and some of the city’s most populated and busiest markets such as Karol Bagh, Chawri Bazar, Chandni Chowk and Pitampura come under the area in its jurisdiction.

The project is part of Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal’s Parking Management Area Plan (PMAP), which was launched early this year to decongest residential colonies across Delhi

Even as Delhi observes yet another World Environment Day, the city is overflowing with plastic bags.

The 35-feet high stainless steel work -- eight big stainless steel sprouts -- was created in 2008 created by artist Vibhor Sogani near the Kidwai Nagar Redevelopment Project.

The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act contains provisions to take stringent action against the owners of shops that are caught for having built illegal extensions, blocking public passage, and causing pollution.

The operation, which began on Tuesday evening and was carried out by the special task force constituted on the orders of the Supreme Court to tackle encroachment across the national capital, also targeted eight unlicensed vends.

Encroachers had built new structures on the pavements along Vivekanand Marg and Church Road in RK Puram.

On Friday, the anti-encroachment drive was undertaken at Feroze Gandhi Road, Veer Savarkar Marg, Krishna Market and surrounding areas. Officials said that around three kilometre of road was cleared for the use of pedestrians.

Experts said parking on roadsides was the biggest cause of congestion on Delhi’s roads and turning a blind eye to that would render the ongoing drive futile.

Join Hindustan Times

Create free account and unlock exciting features like