CM visits colony, assures amenities

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday met residents of Kathputli Colony in west Delhi whose houses were demolished by the DDA on October 30.

Kejriwal assured them of basic facilities such as food, water and temporary shelter.

Criticising the demolition Kejriwal said that it was “unfortunate” that force was used on the public. “People’s homes have been brutally demolished and young girls are on the roads now, one kid has died and household items have been broken. I am very pained with whatever happened,” he said.

The colony is the city’s first in-situ redevelopment where people living in the neighbourhood will be housed in the new flats that will come up in the place of the slum.

Kejriwal, who was accompanied by transport minister Kailash Gahlot said that the Delhi government had earlier rehabilitated many slum dwellers but without using force.

The residents had happily left their homes and moved to the newly built houses, he said.

Wading through the crowd, Kejriwal stood on the rubble of houses and interacted with the locals.

“This government is dedicated to the poor. It was elected by the poor and not by the rich so, we are here to work for you. We will make arrangements for your temporary shelter, food and water,” Kejriwal added.

Kejriwal later in the day met lieutenant governor (L-G) Anil Baijal and requested him to allow the government to carry out relief work till the court hearing to which the L-G agreed, said a government official.

A statement issued by the DDA said that the chief minister met the L-G and “appreciated the work being carried out by the DDA as per the orders of High Court.

“Arrangements have been made by the DDA to provide transportation to transit camps, ambulance for medical care and ample supply of food and drinking water at all the three sites... Tents, water, food, toilets etc. would be provided to the residents of the colony, said the statement.”