Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on 2nd January that the Delhi government will replace shelter tents of the homeless with portable cabins and will build 45 shelter homes for people living under flyovers and open spaces in the freezing cold weather of Delhi. While the Aam Aadmi Party claimed to build the cabins within 72 hours of the announcement, news reports stated not much had been done in two days.
Mr Kejiriwal said in a press conference on Wednesday, “During night inspections by our ministers Manish Sisodia and Rakhi Birla and Sanjay Singh, it came to our knowledge that many people are sleeping under flyovers. The government has decided to provide portable cabin-based shelter to them on the spot. The Delhi Government runs several night shelters made of tents. So I have ordered that all such night shelters be converted into portable cabins in the next 3-4 days.”
Several people who were left homeless in Delhi due to a demolition drive by the Railways still sleep in the open and strive in the cold weather of Delhi. According to the state government reports, there are still at least 4000 people living without any shelter in the city.
Records at Skymet show that miniums in January have continuously been hovering around 4 to 7 degree Celsius. And it isn't going to get any better as a drop of 2 degrees is expected in the next 48 hours, making early mornings and nights even colder. Dense fog and cold days with maximum temperature not exceeding 19 degrees will further add to the chill in Delhi.
“Weather in Delhi is not expected to get any better and there may be no respite from the cold. A faint sun during the day will be the only source of relief for these homeless”, says meteorologist at Skymetweather.com.
Photo by news.rediff
