New Delhi: A bill to regularise unauthorized colonies and rehabilitate slum dwellers in poll-bound Delhi was passed by Lok Sabha today with a key amendment under which colonies that have come up till June one, this year, will be eligible.
Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu also said that the government was moving towards regularisation of 1,200 plus unauthorised colonies in Delhi, whose details can be given after firming up of final contours.
The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Amendment Bill 2014, seeking extension of the existing Act for a period of three years from January 1, 2015, was passed after the government agreed to the amendment.
The amendment sought extension of cut off date for eligibility of colonies for authorisation from 2007 to 2014.
Participating in the debate, several BJP MPs including Meenakshi Lekhi said properties that have already been booked for punitive action, will be a hurricane task with the available infrastructure, manpower and tools.
“It is, therefore, proposed as under that the cut-off date for inclusion of unauthorized constructions be extended further to 2014,” she said.
Replying to the debate, Naidu said the amendment makes colonies eligible for authorisation beyond the cut off date of February 8, 2007. Now the government has agreed to extend the date to June 1, 2014.
He said everyone, particularly, the Delhi members and people who live adjacent to Delhi have suggested that the cut-off date has to be extended.
“As of now, the cut-off date is 2007. As I was discussing earlier, what is the reality? Can you remove people who have settled after 2007 and who have been living in that place by 2014? In the original Bill it is 2007.
“So... I want to move an amendment also. Seven of the Delhi Members have given a notice for moving amendment for extending the cut-off date from February or March of 2007 to end of 2014, but I am willing to go by the collective wisdom of the Members of the House and I want it to be extended by 1st June 2014,” Naidu said.
The bill was introduced against the backdrop of phenomenal growth of Delhi that has led to problems of encroachment on public land, growth of slums, unauthorised constructions, large scale commercialisation of residential areas and inadequacy of housing stocks.
Naidu said his Ministry was taking all steps to retain Delhi's reputation as the greenest capital city.
He suggested three measures—rainwater harvesting, tapping of solar power and plantation of trees—for sustainable growth of the national capital.
The Urban Development Minister said the government was not taking action on many demands of members including on the issue of a holistic Master Plan, strengthening of the National Capital Regional Planning Board and regularization of unauthorized colonies as there was no elected government in Delhi.
Noting that digitisation of all maps is an important issue, he said he has already given direction to digitise all maps and put them online.
“Three MCDs have already said that they are in an advanced stage. DDA and NDMC have also been directed to do it by 1st January 2015.
“I told the DDA that everything should be online. DDA is again another white elephant, which is what people say. However, I want to make DDA to live up to the expectations of the people. That is why I have told them to start doing this,” he said.
Participating in debate, many members sought more powers for National Capital Region Planning Board for coordinated development of the Capital and NCR area as they expressed concern over unplanned construction.
Saugata Roy (TMC) and Deepender Singh Hooda (Cong) said the national capital and neighbouring cities are interlinked and NCRPB is the only authority having powers to develop policies for the entire region.
Speaking during a discussion on National Capital territory of Delhi Laws (Spl provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill 2014, which aims at regularisation of unauthorised colonies and rehabilitation of slum dwellers and Jhuggi-Jhopri (slum) clustersm Parvesh Verma (BJP) blamed absence of government policies for development of unauthorised colonies.
Verma sought comprehensive policies for urban development.
Tathagata Satpathy (BJD) said Delhi has become an “ugly city” except for the little island of Lutyen's zone.
