The Hindu : New Delhi News : Further relief from sealing proposed

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Thursday, Feb 19, 2009
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New Delhi

Further relief from sealing proposed

Sujay Mehdudia

Bill in Lok Sabha to extend Delhi moratorium on action against illegal properties

Moratorium under the 2007 Act expired last year
“More time needed to finalise norms”

NEW DELHI: Aiming to provide further relief to the Capital’s residents from the spectre of sealing, the Union Government has introduced in the Lok Sabha the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Bill, 2009. It proposes to extend by one more year the moratorium on punitive action against various categories of unauthorised commercial properties in Delhi.

The Bill, introduced by Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy, seeks to maintain the status quo in respect of the Capital’s unauthorised colonies, including village abadi (settlements) and their extensions, storages, warehouses and godowns for farm produce and some other categories. It also proposes to extend the relief to urban villages. The Bill, for the period from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2009, seeks to replace the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2007. The moratorium prescribed under the 2007 Act expired on December 31 last year, after which the BJP-ruled Municipal Corporation of Delhi got bound by Supreme Court orders to resume the sealing of unauthorised commercial properties.

According to the statement of objectives and reasons for the Bill, some more time is required to finalise norms, policy guidelines and feasible strategies to deal with the problem of unauthorised development in the form of encroachment by slum-dwellers and jhuggi-jhonpri clusters. Finalising norms for various categories of properties like schools, dispensaries, religious and cultural institutions, warehouses and godowns for farm produce in rural areas would also take some more time, it said.

“Apart from this, based on further representations received, it is proposed to extend the relief to urban villages, in addition to village abadi and its extension,” it said, adding that the MCD and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had formulated policies for hawkers and urban street vendors but some more time would be needed to ensure their orderly implementation.

Similarly, it said, the guidelines and regulations for regularisation of unauthorised colonies had been issued and the Delhi Government had initiated further action in this regard but more time is needed for orderly implementation.

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