The Hindu : New Delhi News : Stop sealing drive, demands Delhi Congress

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Monday, Oct 30, 2006
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New Delhi

Stop sealing drive, demands Delhi Congress

Staff Reporter

Resolution to be tabled during forthcoming Assembly session

PRESENTING THEIR CASE: Congress leaders led by DPCC chief Ram Babu Sharma with Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal in connection with sealing drive in Delhi on Sunday. Photo: Anu Pushkarna

NEW DELHI: The Executive Committee of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee on Sunday passed a resolution demanding that the impending sealing drive that threatens livelihoods of millions of citizens be stopped forthwith by bringing "The Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act 2006" -- seeking moratorium on sealing and demolitions for one year -- under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of India so that a suitable and acceptable solution to the problem is found by taking into account various problems of the Capital in the pending Master Plan for Delhi 2021.

The meeting was called by Delhi Congress president Ram Babu Sharma and attended by Union Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken among others. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and her son and East Delhi MP Sandeep Dikshit, however, stayed away from the meeting despite being sent formal invitations for it.

The resolution passed at the meeting would now be tabled in the forthcoming session of Delhi Assembly, due to begin from October 30. It would replace another resolution passed by Ms Dikshit which was opposed by several Congress leaders on the ground that it was too critical of the Centre where the party is in power.

The resolution passed at the special meeting of the Executive Committee appreciated the efforts made by the Union Government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the Parliament "in the shape of various notifications and enactment that have till now succeeded in providing much-needed relief to lakhs of common citizens in the Capital as per the declared and desired objective of the UPA Government."

It stressed that "while notifications dated March 28, 2006 and September 7, 2006 regarding mixed land use saved about 5 lakh shops mainly owned by lower and middle class citizens of Delhi from the sealing axe by clearing confusion about mixed land use and paved the way for creation of much needed commercial spaces in the city, the notification dated September 22, 2006 which allowed one additional floor in the floor area ratio sought to realistically realign building by-laws so that the lower and middle class citizens are not disadvantaged."

Similarly, the resolution said, the enactment of The Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006 on May 11 not only provided long term relief to common people but also put in place a bulwark against any unjust displacement and dislocation of lakhs of marginalised citizens living in slums and jhuggi jhopri clusters as well as people who earn a livelihood by vending and hawking.

The Executive Committee of DPCC also appealed for an urgent and lasting solution to the problem and appealed that MPD 2021 and its zonal and sub plans be implemented before January 31, 2007. Unanimously seconding the resolution moved by Mr Sharma, the committee also requested the Delhi Government to pass it in this very Assembly session.

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