SC order triggers political blamegame City set to witness mass anti-encroachment drive
FINGERPOINTING Top political leaders call for action against municipal officials
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court ‘s direction to the Central government to halt new construction in Delhi’s 1,797 unauthorised colonies and to make public land “encroachment free” has triggered a blame-game among Delhi’s civic officials and political dispensation.
While political leaders unanimously called for action against municipal officials saying the latter were the ones who allowed mushrooming of unlawful structures, the municipal officials pinned the blame on Delhi Police, officials from the Delhi government’s revenue department, and the city’s elected representatives.
A senior official of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation said that any construction in an unauthorised colony is illegal by default and government authorities are free to demolish them anytime. “Action can be taken by the Delhi Police without even obtaining any permission from the MCDS. Moreover, most unauthorised colonies came up on agricultural land. Had the revenue department acted against them from the start, a court intervention would not have been needed,” an official said on the condition of anonymity.
Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken said, “The three civic bodies, police, and revenue departments are responsible for the mess. They could have prevented such construction activities. Mainly sub-divisional magistrates (SDMS) are accountable as these colonies have not been handed over to the municipal corporations,” he said.
However, former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, under whose tenure provisional regularisation certificates were granted to residents of over 1,639 unauthorised colonies in 2008, said there should be a mechanism to protect existing structures.
“In Delhi, there is going to be a huge demand for housing. How can we ignore this?” she said.
Dikshit said municipal offi- cials cannot keep blaming political leaders. “They can’t have excuses for not discharging their duties. They were the ones who allowed these constructions.”
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said the court order had acknowledged connivance of municipal officials, the police and the builder mafia. “Construction in unauthorised colonies is a big ‘industry’ as huge money changes hands. These colonies are mulching cows for them.”
Bharadwaj said the only solution to stop this menace is through court intervention.
Manoj Tiwari, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief in Delhi, said encroachment was a very serious issue which must be dealt with. However, the Delhi BJP chief voiced disagreement against “selective action”.
“Rules should be equal for all. There should not be a ‘pick-andchoose’ policy. Action should be taken against encroachers but it should be clearly defined what exactly should qualify as ‘unauthorised’ construction,” he said. 1976: During the Emergency, the DDA cleared slum clusters from Jama Masjid-turkman Gate and removed hundreds of illegal occupants along the Ring Road. Jagmohan, then DDA vice-chair, who later became Delhi's L-G and Union urban development minister, led the drive 1999-2000: Following a SC order, authorities sealed and relocated polluting industries operating out of non-conforming areas. They were relocated to new industrial areas such as Bawana and Narela and NCR 2005: The erstwhile MCD launched a drive against encroachments and building bye-law violations after the Delhi HC directed it to demolish illegal constructions in West
Patel Nagar. Later, the drive was extended to other parts of city 2006: On the directions of the Supreme Court, the municipal corporation sealed commercial units operating from residential neighbourhoods Unauthorised colonies (which existed in 1962 when the first Master Plan was made) regularised in 1969
Colonies regularised in 1977 with the cut-off date till June 1974
Colonies regularised in 2002-03
Colonies for which Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement
Board issued a notification in 2016 (Final approval is awaited)
Text: Parvez Sultan NEWDELHI: Following the Supreme Court direction to the Centre to stop all new constructions in 1,797 unauthorised colonies and free public land of all encroachment within two weeks, the city may witness mass demolition and anti-encroachment drive after the gap of nearly 12 years.
The demolition of illegal structures and sealing of commercial establishments operating from residential neighbourhoods was started in 2006 following orders by Delhi high court and Supreme Court respectively. “The apex court had issued similar directions in 2006 as well, but the situation did not change on ground. The only different this time is that the Sc-appointed monitoring committee has been asked to keep a vigil on the Special Task Force and their activities,” said Sanjay Bhargava, president of Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapaar Mandal.
BJP’S Vijender Gupta, leader of opposition in the Delhi Assembly, said hindrance on right of way and encroachments on public land in the city is the primary issue. “Everybody should follow the rule. This should be above politics and we all should appreciate court’s directions,” he said.
Encroachment on public land and pavements is a big problem in market places and commercial centres across Delhi, leaving little pedestrian space for walkers. It not only slows down traffic, lack of walking space also a hazard for pedestrians.
“We welcome the SC’S order, but removal of encroachment from public land will totally depend on the willingness of civic agencies. An encroachment-free footpath is the fundamental right of pedestrians, but they are forced to walk of roads because most of the time these are occupied by hawkers, vendors and even the government agencies who have installed their trans- formers here. We have been fighting the matter since 1990,” Bhargava added.
The Delhi Police said it provides security to agencies during any encroachment removal process. “We will follow the Supreme Court order to the hilt,” said a Delhi police spokesperson.
South Corporation mayor Kamaljeet Sehrawat said, “We are regularly taking action against people encroaching upon public land and after the court’s direction we will intensify the drive. However as far as stopping construction in illegal colonies is concerned, we will first study the order properly and then decide future steps.” NEWDELHI: The residents of Kathputli Colony will have proper flats by February next year as part of in-situ (at same place) rehabilitation plan of Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Union housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Tuesday.
The Union minister made the announcement at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of an in-situ development project at Kathputli Colony on Tuesday. As per the agreement, the developer, a private builder, has to construct 2,800 houses (30.5 sq m each) for the economically weaker sections (EWS) by the beginning of 2019.
Delhi lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal was also present at the event.
Puri highlighted that Kathpulti Colony residents held an important position in country’s culture and history and said the redevelopment model has to keep pace with the movement of people from rural to urban areas.
Kathputli Colony, which is spread over an area of around 14 acres, was home to a large number of puppeteers, magicians, singers and musicians and is currently being redeveloped. Last year, DDA had conducted a demolition drive in the colony which had triggered clashes among its residents and the police.
Puri said the redevelopment project was originally conceived in 2009 and would provide clean, well-planned and habitable units, along with adequate social infrastructure to the people.
“The residents of this colony will be provided newly-constructed houses in the same place they were staying. Flats will be given to 2800 dwellers of the colony and around 475 remaining families will also be rehabilitated after proper verification. I will request our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) to inaugurate the houses next year,” he said.
“By 2030, 600 million (60 crore) Indians would be living in urban spaces. The redevelopment of cities has to be done keeping in mind this fact,” Puri said.
According to a press statement of DDA, the redeveloped colony would also have a heritage/exhibition museum, Kaushal Kala Vikas Kendra, multipurpose hall and other facilities, so that the residents can pursue their art.
Unauthorised colonies/ old dilapidated areas
Slums Villages