The Hindu : New Delhi News : MCD identifying new roads for commercial use

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Friday, Dec 22, 2006
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MCD identifying new roads for commercial use

Staff Reporter

Process already over in four civic zones: Commissioner

NEW DELHI: Under pressure from the political parties and the public, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi is continuing with the process of identifying new roads to be included in the list of commercial and mixed land use categories. Though only the Delhi Government can notify these roads, the Supreme Court has asked the Centre to present before it the new list for clearance before notifying it.

According to Municipal Commissioner A.K. Nigam, they have already completed the process in four civic zones, while work on the remaining eight zones was going on. He, however, clarified that the figure of 1,000-odd new roads for identification, being quoted by leaders and the media, was not final.

"After identifying all the new roads, the list will be forwarded to the Delhi Government, which is the final authority for notifying new roads for commercial use in the city. It is for the Government to decide whether to wait for implementation of the Master Plan for Delhi-2021or move the Supreme Court to get the new roads list cleared for implementation," he stated.

`Add more to list'

Mr. Nigam also said they had urged the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee to add a few more non-polluting businesses and trades, like sanitary hardware shops, to the list of 24 items approved by the apex court in residential areas.

The Monitoring Committee has asked the MCD to give a list of trades that it wants to be included so that a final decision can be taken. "We will soon be giving a list to them," Mr. Nigam added.

Meanwhile, the Councillors of both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party have asked the Municipal Commissioner to allow small trades and businesses in `A' and `B' colonies as well. The Leader of the House, Jitender Kochar, said it was unfair to ban daily need shops in posh colonies. At least 20 sq.m. shops should be allowed in these colonies but only after getting due permission from the respective residents' welfare associations.

"We will ask Mr. Nigam to raise this issue also before the Supreme Court," he added.

Similarly, senior BJP Councillor Vijender Gupta lambasted the Centre for failing to safeguards the rights of those living in posh localities, besides questioning the logic behind categorising colonies for carrying out the sealing drive. "The categorisation was done only for the purpose of collecting property tax. But now the same method is being used to harass residents of posh localities. They too need small shops for buying daily need items, hence 24 categories of trades should be allowed in these areas also," he demanded.

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