After nearly two years of efforts by the residents of the colonies surrounding the 400-acre Jahanpanah City Forest in South Delhi, the Delhi Development Authority has finally awarded the work for raising the boundary wall around it as during night the forest was being rampantly used by criminal elements who have been committing burglaries and thefts in the apartments adjoining it. President of Narmada Residents’ Welfare Association R. P. Dhawan said while work had started about three months ago, it was stopped suddenly by the DDA. He said the residents had then approached Union Minister Ajay Maken and area councillor Virender Kasana but nothing came of it. “Due to pulling down of the wire fencing and breaking of the wall, safety and security in our apartment complex had been compromised and there were numerous thefts; about 50 water meters were stolen and several apartments were burgled.” Mr. Kasana said the issue pertained to the entire area. “The Jahanpanah forest is surrounded by Greater Kailash II, Narmada and Nilgiri apartments and Gangotri Enclave on one side and Dakshinpuri and Ambedkar Nagar on the other. While the forest is visited by a large number of people for morning and evening walks, at night it becomes a refuge for criminals who target nearby colonies. It has a nearly two-metre high wall running all around it. But the height of this wall was not enough to keep out the criminal elements.” So, Mr. Kasana said, in July 2011 when the residents had urged Mr. Maken to intervene and get the height of the wall raised, he had convened a meeting and it was decided that the height of the wall would be raised to three metres and barbed wires would be put on top of it to prevent intrusions. “Over two years, we had several meetings with the DDA officials but due to the presence of one Superintending Engineer, the work could not proceed to the satisfaction of all. Now that this SE has been transferred, we are hopeful that the necessary constructions would be carried out and the security concerns of the citizens would be addressed,” said Mr. Kasana. DDA Chief Engineer A. K. Pandit said while the original wall had been constructed using stone masonry it was vulnerable to being punctured and trespassed. “So we have got one 800 metres section made with reinforced cement concrete near Dakshinpuri. The wall near the apartments is also being raised and the work has been awarded. It should start this week and is likely to get over within a month.” “Due to pulling down of wire fencing and breaking of wall, safety and security of nearby apartment complexes had been compromised”