Bill to protect Delhi slums from punitive action in LS

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A Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday that seeks to provide a three- year extension to a law that protects slums and some unauthorised constructions in NCR from punitive action till a framework for orderly arrangements are in place.

Under the Act, orderly arrangements had to be made for relocation and rehabilitation of slum dwellers and jhuggi- jhonpri clusters, regulation of unauthorised colonies, village abadi area and their extensions, and regularisation of urban street vendors, among other things.

Last week, the Union

The Bill seeks to provide a 3- year extension to a law that protects slums and some unauthorised constructions in NCR from punitive action till a framework for orderly arrangements are in place

Cabinet had passed the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws ( Special Provisions) Second ( Amendment) Bill, 2017, that provides for extending the provisions of the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws ( Special Provisions) Second Act, 2011 for three years from January 1, 2018 till December 31, 2020.

The Bill also seeks to allow time to the “government, urban local bodies and other organisations involved to take a balanced and well considered view on policies, norms and strategies for orderly implementation of plans regarding these unauthorised development,” it said.

It is believed that the extension of the Act beyond December 31 this year has been necessitated because the norms to deal with the problem of encroachment and unauthorised developments are yet to be finalised by various entities concerned, including the Delhi government.

As per the statement, the NCT of Delhi has been growing phenomenally over the last many years putting a heavy strain on its infrastructure and resource.