located in the heart of the Capital, the posh New Delhi has emerged as the cosmopolitan face of the Capital but like other parts of the city, this region too, bears the typical urban syndromes. As many as 17 jhuggi jhopdi (JJ) clusters exist in the area which is known for housing the most influential political and bureaucratic bigwigs of the country. lacking in even basic amenities, some of these clusters lay a stone’s throw away from the residences of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Race Course Road and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Tughlaq lane.
For over 40 years these clusters have been surviving on bare minimum. Even basic sanitation facilities are missing and they are always under the threat of demolition. One of the clusters still uses manholes as a means for sewage and another lacks medical facilities. Earlier a dispensary had been provided to these slum-dwellers on Aurangzeb Road, but now there is no sign of it. A cluster in Race Course, not more than 300 metres away from the PM’s residence, is perpetually vandalised by local goons.
“They just come and cut our electricity as per their whims and fancies. Once they came and just broke into our houses while we were asleep. They don’t even let us bring in building material to fix roofs, doors and walls of our homes when they are damaged. If we oppose, we are banned from entering the Delhi Race Club, where most residents work,” said Ramesh Kumar, the head of the area.
Water is also a perennial problem for these dwellers. The dhobi ghat in Krishna Menon Marg houses around 25 jhuggis where only 12-13 people are dhobis. All the people in that area use water from the ghat. However, a few months ago they were slapped with a bill of Rs22 lakh for it and till date are being pestered to pay it off.
Ramesh Prasad said, “We were told by the previous Congress Government that we would not have to pay anything for water. But then we started getting bills. Initially it was Rs12,000 but then the prices kept galloping to Rs22,000, Rs40,000 and now Rs2 lakh. We are only few of us who earn through laundry. How can just 10-12 of us pay off such a massive amountIJ”
Residents also complain that politicians visit their cluster only once in five years just before the elections and make hollow promises. This year, after the plight of these JJ clusters came to light, allotted three acres of land in Sarai Kale Khan to 18 clusters under NDMC.
According to the order passed on February 27, the land will house 1,200 apartments over 15 floors. However, most of the dwellers in these slums are not eligible to occupy these flats.
Ram Dhan, another resident of the area said that the last survey in the area was in 2011, according to which only one-fourth of the families in the cluster will be allotted new houses.