The Hindu : New Delhi News : "Master Plan will stand the scrutiny of law"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 09, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

"Master Plan will stand the scrutiny of law"

Staff Reporter

Regulatory authority would be set up: Minister Certain provisions might face difficulty in securing approvals from courts

NEW DELHI: Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy on Thursday expressed "absolute confidence'' that the new Master Plan for Delhi-2021, which many allege has been prepared under political pressures and compulsions, would stand the scrutiny of law.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Reddy said, "there is nothing in it that offends the law''. However, it is widely believed that certain provisions, like regularising commercial activity on the ground floor of Delhi Development Authority colonies, would face difficulty in securing approvals from courts.

Mr. Reddy also declared that a regulatory authority would be set up to ensure that Delhi grows in a planned manner in future.

He also said the plan was very flexible and "we can always amend it if there is a specific public need''. Also, in keeping with the changing needs of the city, he said it would be reviewed every five years.

The Minister said the plan had also addressed environmental issues adequately. Making a specific reference to the Yamuna, he said along with the Ridge it is one of the two "defining geographical features'' of Delhi and so every effort would be made to clean it and beautify its surroundings.

"As far as channelising the Yamuna is concerned, there will be a need to evolve a consensus on that. But we want to develop the riverfront,'' he said.

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