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RWAs criticise Jaipal Reddy

Staff Reporter

`Interests of residents ignored in Master Plan'

NEW DELHI: Several Residents' Welfare Associations (RWAs) in the Capital have criticised Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy for not considering their views while finalising the Master Plan for Delhi-2021 even as trade organisations are happy over the Minister's announcement that the new Master Plan would be notified by February 7.

Tuesday saw the RWAs and traders organising separate meetings to discuss the Master Plan and the issue of sealing and demolitions. While the Delhi Residents' Welfare Associations Joint Front reviewed the situation, the Confederation of All-India Traders (CAIT) organised a seminar on "Master Plan for Delhi-2021 -- Implications on Delhi Trade".

Interestingly, while the RWA Front advocated that traders should be properly rehabilitated before sealing their shops, CAIT saw reason in RWAs' protest by acknowledging that residents were suffering from unregulated commercialisation of the Capital.

Criticising the Urban Development Ministry for not considering around 7,000 objections raised by the RWAs in the Master Plan draft, RWA Front secretary Pankaj Agarwal said the long-term interest of the city and the majority of its residents was being ignored.

"Neither the impact of increased floor area ratio and excess commercialisation on environment nor infrastructure impact assessment has being done. Similarly, there is no commitment that future construction would be strictly as per the building by-laws. Master Plan is nothing but a political plan," he said.

RWAs have demanded that their suggestions be incorporated in the Master Plan and the Delhi Urban Regulatory Authority, as suggested by the Khanna Committee, should also be a part of the Master Plan.

However, traders have expressed faith in Mr. Reddy's statement and are hoping that the Government would not miss the deadline again. "The Government has committed that the new Master Plan would be notified by February 7 that would end all problems of traders and residents," said CAIT secretary-general Praveen Khandelwal at the seminar.

Stating that the categorisation of colonies was strictly for property tax that is to be reviewed every three years, trade leaders said it was wrong to seal shops as per the classification of colonies.

"What if the A or B category colonies are downgraded to C or D category? Will the Government than allow shops in these colonies again," asked Mr. Khandelwal. Mr. Khandelwal demanded that commercial activities be allowed in A and B category colonies also.

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