INDIA BUSINESS WORLD - MAY 2006
THE MONTH THAT WAS...

GOVT. MOVES TO BULLDOZE DEMOLITIONS

   THE bulldozers are set to come to a stop in Delhi. The Lok Sabha on Friday passed a Bill that proposes a one-year moratorium on punitive action against unauthorized constructions in the national Capital that will bring respite to thousands of residents who face the specter of demolition. The sizeable vote bank in Delhi's unauthorized constructions saw the BJP backing the Congress-led government's initiative with both indulging in polemics to take credit.

The Bill was passed unanimously by the House. The Bill, which was piloted by urban development minister Jaipal Reddy, provides for status quo as on January 1of unauthorised development in respect of mixed land use, construction beyond sanctioned plans and encroachment by slum dwellers, hawkers and street vendors in the capital.

Mr Reddy said the Bill was to prevent “unnecessary hardships and harassment” to Delhi citizens. He also announced construction of 1 lakh apartments for slum dwellers in the next two years through in-situ development. He said as a result, slum dwellers would be settled where they are residing presently. For that, he added, the ministry will generate its own funds without depending on the finance ministry. The move comes after stepped-up demands from affected persons and different political parties to halt the demolition and sealing of commercial establishments in the capital. The demolition drive was launched by civic authorities following court orders.

With an estimated 5 lakh immigrants pouring in annually and the growing land scarcity in Delhi, a revised rehabilitation policy for slum dwellers in multi-storied tenements and fresh guidelines for regularisation of unauthorised colonies were under the government's consideration, Mr Reddy said.

The minister said it was “difficult” for government agencies to implement Court directions for removal of slums in a “rigid time limit” due to non-availability of land. “The removal of slum dwellers, who are otherwise eligible for relocation under the policy, require protection from their placement pending finalisation of the revised policy,” he said.

On court directions to local bodies to frame specific schemes for street vendors, he said these have to be realistic, taking into consideration not only concerns of hawkers and squatters but also the citizens' right on public places. “This would require sometime for finalisation,” he said. Mr Reddy said the government is also preparing a draft policy for rehabilitation of hawkers and vendors, who have been living in Delhi for decades. “Some have been living here much before many of the elected representatives came here”.

Delhi BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra, under pressure to deny Congress the credit for bringing the Bill, picked holes in the Bill even while extending support. Describing the measure as coming “too late and too little”, he said he had sought government action way back in March, but it had failed to respond.