Changing the face of Delhi by rebuilding the city is now a new mission. In the run-up to the MCD elections in Delhi, senior BJP leader and Union Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday, November 30, unveiled a mega developmental and housing plan for the national capital.
“There are 299 JJ clusters where the responsibility for rehabilitation has been cast on Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), which falls under Delhi Government. Unfortunately, no work has been carried out till date,” Puri said. He further said the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has embarked upon a mission to fulfil the housing aspirations of Delhi residents. The schemes are estimated to cater to the needs of 1.35 crore citizens. The Lt. Governor of Delhi, Vinai Kumar Saxena, is the chairman of DDA.” As a step forward in this direction, the BJP government (in the centre) has already constructed 3024 dwelling units in Kalkaji where the possession of EWS units is underway to eligible jhuggi dwellers of Bhommiheen camp. Within next few months, we are going to complete the Jailorwala Bagh Project, wherein 1675 JJ dwellers will be rehabilitated on similar lines. Another Project, namely Kathputli Colony is underway, which is likely to be completed next year,” Puri said.
It is estimated that approximately 8 lakh families residing in unauthorized colonies (UCs). “Under PM–UDAY scheme, 16,626 authorization slips / Conveyance deeds have been issued. In order to improve the standard of living in these colonies, the Government has notified the development control norms of UCs wherein the residents/RWAs can come forward as part of Regularization/Regeneration scheme”.
Census 2011 indicated Delhi’s population as 1.6 crores. Now it is the most populous urban agglomeration in the world (second only to Tokyo) with around two crore citizens. Delhi’s population in 2041 is estimated at 2.92 crores. Delhi, the capital city of the world’s fifth largest economy, is like a dynamic, growing organism. ‘Sabka Vikas’ in the town is being assured by ensuring urban development through various mechanisms.
The Master Plan 2041, which is in the final stages now, is going to be a visionary document to usher in a new era of development in Delhi. It will have policies for the regeneration of existing colonies and growth, greenfield development through Land Pooling and Green Development Area policy and building modern infrastructure in Delhi. Of course, Urban Transport is the backbone of city infrastructure. Therefore, public transport connecting various parts of the city, along with walkability and cycling provisions, are the enabling provisions in the forthcoming Master Plan of Delhi 2041.
At a recent election campaign trail for the civic body polls in the national capital, Mr Puri had flayed AAP. He said, “A political start-up (AAP) was formed because the Congress government then was considered to be a record holder for all-time high corruption”. But he said the party floated in 2013 has proved its non-performance and corrupt nature in running regimes in Delhi and Punjab.
The Union Minister said that the AAP has now become the most corrupt party in the country. The MCD polls are to be held on December 4.” People living in unauthorized colonies will also get pucca houses,” Puri said on Wednesday. “There would be 10 lakh beneficiaries for those without homes. PM-Uday for regularization of unauthorized colonies will benefit about 50 lakh people,” he said.
