The Hindu : New Delhi News : Move to regularise unauthorised VIP colonies and farmhouses

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 21, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Move to regularise unauthorised VIP colonies and farmhouses

Sujay Mehdudia

Union Ministry has decided to set up a committee to study the regularisation

NEW DELHI: In a development that should come as a big relief to residents of the Capital's posh unauthorised colonies, the Union Urban Development Ministry has decided to set up a committee to study regularisation of Sanik Farms, Anant Ram Dairy and Mahendru Enclave.

The committee will also closely study the issue of commercial use of farmhouses and what criteria should be adopted for allowing such use in future.

Master Plan

According to highly placed sources, the Ministry is all set to announce the constitution of the committee in order to speed up the process of planning, drafting and then final incorporation into the Master Plan for Delhi-2021.

"We want to completely give up the ad hoc approach that had been adopted in the past by the Delhi Development Authority or the Ministry in approaching the Master Plan for Delhi. This time round we will first consolidate our approach, address all the issues including controversial ones and then make them part and parcel of the Master Plan,'' said a senior Ministry official.

Sources said that since the issue of regularisation of these posh unauthorised colonies had been hanging fire for many years and had even been dragged to the courts, the right approach would be to address the issue in a practical manner.

According to sources, a large number of VIPs, political leaders and important personalities have constructed their houses in Sanik Farms, Anant Ram Dairy and Mahendru Enclave and there is increasing pressure on the Government to work out a solution.

It is understood that the Delhi Government has already conveyed its "no objection" to regularisation of such colonies.

"The committee will carry out a survey of the ground realities and submit its report within three months. As the regularisation of other colonies is also pending with the Delhi Government and the Urban Development Ministry, the view is that everything should be done in a combined manner to avoid any discrepancies or confusion,'' said a senior official.

On the other hand, the committee would also look into the mushrooming of farmhouses and their commercial use in various locations of the Capital. However, sources made it clear that the concept of motels would not be allowed to take root in and around the Capital in any shape, as this was a highway activity.

The committee would survey all the farmhouses in the Capital and submit a report on extension of the Floor Area Ratio (FAR), their rationality of holding functions and putting them to commercial use.

The committee would also suggest what kind of infrastructure should be put in place for a farmhouse to qualify for commercial use.

Infrastructure

"These places cannot be allowed to exist in isolation. They are part and parcel of the growing infrastructure need of the Capital and therefore there has to be harmonious integration of such places into the scheme of things. The effort is to also make their presence in the Master Plan for Delhi,'' said another senior official.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi

News Update

Stories in this Section