They feel like puppets on a string. Fear of uncertainty looms large among scores of residents of Kathputli Colony on being shifted to a new location.
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is trying all means to convince them of being in safe hands. The housing agency has assured the slum dwellers that everyone would be accommodated in the EWS flats being built by them. The authority also tried to clear the air regarding allegations of it selling the land to Raheja Developers at a meagre Rs 6.11 crore.
Responding to those ruing about the proposed flats being too small to live in and work from, the DDA stated that what they are offering is even more than the prescribed guidelines of Delhi Government’s Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB). “According to DUSIB, flats for the economically weaker sections should have an area between 23-25 sq m each. But we are offering 35 sq m,” said Balvinder Kumar, Vice-Chairman, DDA.
Promising that every ‘genuine’ resident shall be given a place to live in the flats, Kumar added, “Even those who are not in the survey list of 2009-10 will be accommodated in the new flats.” Meanwhile, protests at Kathputli Colony mellowed down a bit with the DDA on Thursday agreeing to begin talks with the residents. “The protests were on, but from tomorrow the DDA will start holding public meetings with the residents.,” said Sunaina Vadhwan, member of NGO Hazard Centre which has been actively involved in the protests.
