The Hindu : New Delhi News : A U-turn over unauthorised colonies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 16, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

A U-turn over unauthorised colonies

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI, OCT. 15. In a sudden U-turn over its stand of not accepting anything short of the 1976-77 India Gandhi policy for regularisation of unauthorised colonies in the Capital, the Sheila Dikshit Government in Delhi and the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre are now preparing the ground for levy of "penal and development'' charges on lakhs of residents of such colonies in the Capital. The Congress party had promised in its manifesto for the last Delhi Assembly and Lok Sabha polls that it would not accept anything short of the 1976-77 policy for regularisation of unauthorised colonies. Interestingly, the Sheila Dikshit Government had summoned a special session of the Delhi Assembly on July 27, 2000, to protest against the decision of the then NDA Government of imposing penalty and development charges for regularisation of 1,071 unauthorised colonies forcing the Union Government to put the decision on hold. However, the last few months have been quite interesting, as both the Sheila Dikshit Government and the Union Urban Development Ministry have joined hands to pursue what had been proposed by the previous NDA Government but with some dilution. "They seem to have forgotten Indira and Rajiv Gandhi and their commitment to welfare of such sections of society," a senior Congress leader stated today.

Interestingly, the Finance Minister, A.K. Walia, had gone to the High Court personally when the then Principal Secretary (Urban Development), Suman Swaroop, had given her approval to the imposition of such penal and development charges. He had pleaded that the Delhi Government did not agree with Ms. Swaroop and these were her personal views. The three-time Hastsal MLA, Mukesh Sharma, had gone on a hunger-strike over the issue and the Congress MLAs had warned of hitting the streets if any such charges are imposed.

It is felt by observers that if the decision comes through and such charges are imposed then the Congress could have a lot of red faces as many of its stalwarts including the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, Dr. Walia, the now Outer Delhi Member of Parliament, Sajjan Kumar, Mr. Sharma, Poorvanchal leader, Mahabal Mishra and nearly 30 other MLAs have been strong opponents of such a move. "There is a move to form cooperatives in these unauthorised colonies to implement the scheme for regularisation. If development charges are imposed then the Congress could face a tough time in the political battles ahead. It is an absolutely ill timed and wrong move taken under the influence of the bureaucrats without giving consideration to its political fallout,'' a senior Minister remarked. The most uncomfortable position would be that of Mr. Sajjan Kumar as he had during the recent Lok Sabha polls accused his rival and former Union Minister, Sahib Singh Verma, of imposing charges on lakhs of residents of such colonies. It remains to be seen how Mr. Kumar would defend himself and the decision of the Delhi Government on this issue.

Insiders in the Delhi Government informed that already the ground work had been completed for imposition of development charges for various activities including building roads, providing water and power and other such civic facilities. Although, nothing had been finalised as yet, but the uncanny feeling that things will certainly not be smooth for the residents of such colonies who have throughout been supporters of the Congress party. "The Congress is one by one breaking the promises it made in its poll manifesto. The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, had stated that the party manifestos should be implemented in letter and spirit. But the opposite is being done in Delhi ,'' another senior party leader remarked.

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