NEW DELHI: Even as the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party stalled Parliament on Thursday demanding that the Government table the legislation on putting an immediate halt to sealing and demolitions in the Capital, a rat race has broke out in the Delhi Congress and the BJP to claim credit for introduction of the proposed new Bill, even as it was made clear that it was aimed at finding a solution and not a solution in itself.

Highly placed sources informed that the purpose of trying to seek a one-year moratorium was to put in place a slew of measures within the law that would seek to not only grant relief to the people but also punish those who have violated the law of the land by indulging in massive encroachment on government and public land. For its part, the Union Urban Development Ministry had been under constant pressure from the Congress MPs from Delhi and other party leaders to come out with a solution to the issue of demolitions and sealing in order to save the party from further disaster.

However, many including the political leaders agree in private that it was due to the efforts put in by Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy and his Minister of State Ajay Maken that such a solution was arrived at within such a short time frame.

Interestingly, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was the first to claim credit for the Bill stating that she had fulfilled the promise made to the people and traders of Delhi.

"The Bill is a result of hard work done by Mr. Maken with the support of Mr. Reddy who is very keen on finding a solution to the problems faced by Delhi and its residents. Now the Government will concentrate on finalising the Master Plan for Delhi-2021 and also study the recommendations of Tejinder Khanna Committee when the report is submitted and arrive at a formula or a policy decision that is acceptable to one and all," a senior official of the Urban Development Ministry remarked.

For their part, both Mr. Reddy and Mr. Maken are of the view that the leaders of Delhi including the Congress MPs had sought such a Bill and it had been delivered.

However, the officials asserted that the Bill was only a temporary measure and now the focus would be to ensure enforcement of the law in the future. Not everything and anything under the sun would be regularised or granted relief. Those who have indulged in deliberate encroachment on government land and the builder mafia who have taken the residents for a ride would not get any relief. The interests of the residents' welfare associations would also be kept in mind.

"The Government is in no way for a confrontation with the Apex Court but it cannot also overlook the displacement of lakhs of people due to demolitions and sealing. The Bill reflects the will of the people and Parliament and its passage would enable the authorities to set things right on various fronts within the one-year time frame," the official remarked.

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