The Hindu : New Delhi News : Questions raised over sealing drive

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Friday, Aug 24, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Questions raised over sealing drive

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Even as the Delhi Development Authority has begun sealing premises in the resettlement colony at Kalkaji Extension in South Delhi amid opposition from local residents, a civil rights group, Campaign for Right to Life with Dignity, has demanded that non-discriminatory justice be meted out to the families of the transit camp.

The members of the group, who visited the camp, pointed out that while the DDA itself had resettled the residents at the present camp in 1984, they now wanted to reclaim the land for developing parks. “In the 1982 layout plan the area was earmarked for parks. But then why did DDA resettle these people on park land two years later?” questioned Ramendra Kumar, convenor of the Campaign, which is an initiative of Delhi Shramik Sangathan and several other non-government organisations and individuals.

According to the DDA, many of the original allottees had sold their plots defeating the very purpose of resettlement. However, according to the Campaign, the original allottees were given only demolition and possession slips but no demand letters were issued. Also, an application under the RTI Act filed with the DDA revealed that they did not have any record of the original allottees. “In the absence of any records, how can the DDA claim that original allottees had sold their plots?” Mr . Kumar asked.

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