The Hindu : Front Page : 2021 Master Plan by January-end: Reddy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

2021 Master Plan by January-end: Reddy

Special Correspondent

Lok Sabha members express concern over sealing drive; BJP stages walkout

NEW DELHI: Asserting that nearly 90 per cent of traders and professionals in the Capital have "heaved a huge sigh of relief'' after the Supreme Court order of November 23, Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy assured the Lok Sabha that the 2021 Master Plan would be ready by end of January next year.

Replying to concerns expressed by members during a discussion on the situation arising out of the ongoing sealing drive in Delhi, the Minister said the Delhi Laws (Special Provision) Act passed by Parliament earlier this year has not been stayed or suspended by the Supreme Court. "The law is still in operation'' he said adding that it should not be confused with observations made by the court.

The Bharatiya Janata Party staged a walkout protesting the Government's approach in dealing with the situation.

"I agree Delhi has gone through huge convulsions and large sections were subjected to anxiety'', Mr. Reddy told the House and disagreed with members who suggested that the Government had gone about attending the problem the wrong way.

He said for the first time the Union Government had gone to the Supreme Court so many times to modify the orders and took time to convince the apex court.

Blunting the BJP attack that the Government did little for the people, Mr. Reddy said former Union Minister Jagmohan had issued demolition orders in 2000 against illegal construction and cancellation of DDA flats where violations were beyond what could be condoned.

On the suggestion of V.K. Malhotra (BJP) for an amnesty, the Minister sought to know whether there could be any guarantee that the move would not be challenged. "Through the notification of 7th September we have provided huge relief not only to people who have converted residential premises to commercial but added vast commercial space''. Through the November order, the Court permitted Municipal Corporation of Delhi to come up with an additional list, which was being prepared. He said the Government would also take a "hard look' at the Acts of MCD and Delhi Development Authority.

Mr. Reddy said the Ministry would adopt latest technology for preparation of Zonal Plans. He endorsed the suggestion by Union Minister Kapil Sibal that the plan making for Delhi was lagging behind in terms of preparation. In his intervention, Mr. Sibal argued that the real problem was that Master Plan had not kept pace with dynamics of economic activity, where five lakh people migrate every year from all parts of the country.

As regard rural roads, a point raised by Sajjan Kumar (Congress), the Minister said it would be incorporated in the plan.

The Government would construct one-lakh dwelling units for the poor mostly at current locations in the next two years. "Some of these slums exist for decades. We cannot uproot them socially,'' he said.

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

Front Page