New Delhi: Bringing relief to thousands of residents of Delhi living under the spectre of demolitions, the Lok Sabha on Friday passed a bill which proposes a one-year moratorium from punitive action against unauthorised development in the Capital.
The bill, which was piloted by Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy, provides for status quo as on January 1 ,2006 of unauthorised development in respect of mixed land use, construction beyond sanctioned plans and encroachment by slum dwellers, JJ dwellers, hawkers and street vendors.
The measure comes after stepped up demands from affected persons and different political parties to halt the demolitions and sealing of commercial establishments in the capital in the backdrop of demolition drives launched by the civic authorities following court orders.
Reddy said the Delhi Laws (Special provisions) Bill, 2006 was to prevent "unnecessary hardships and harassment" to the citizens of Delhi.
Replying to the brief discussion, he announced construction of one lakh apartments for slum dwellers in the next two years through in-situ development.
He said that through in-situ development, the slum dwellers would be settled where they are residing at present.
He said that for construction of these apartments, the Ministry would generate its own funds and would not look up to the Finance Ministry.
With an estimated five lakh immigrants every year and the growing scarcity of land in Delhi, a revised policy for rehabilitation of slum dwellers in multi-storied tenements as well as fresh guidelines for regularisation of unauthorised colonies were under Government's consideration, Reddy said.
The Minister said it was "difficult" for government agencies to implement Court directions for removal of slums in a "rigid time limit" due to non-availability of land.
"The removal of slum dwellers who are otherwise eligible for relocation under the policy require protection from their placement pending finalisation of the revised policy," he said.
On court directions to local bodies to frame specific schemes for street vendors, he said these have to be realistic taking into consideration not only concerns of hawkers and squatters but also citizens' right on the public places. "This would require some time for finalisation", he said.
Describing the measure as coming "too late and too little", BJP deputy leader V K Malhotra said he had sought government action in March, but it had failed to respond.
He said 40,000 shops have been sealed, 20,000 houses demolished and slums removed. It is nothing but "criminal negligience" on Government's part, he alleged.
Comments
0 comment