Since Govt can’t decide who is poor, 14,000 new flats vacant for 6 years
Six years ago, the Delhi Government completed construction of 14,000 houses meant for the economically weaker sections (EWS) of society. Today, the flats are still empty and show signs of wear and tear without any power or water supply facility in the complex. Such is the state of the Rajiv Ratan Awas Yojana scheme which is meant to provide low-cost homes to eligible applicants. Due to ambiguity over the definition of EWS under which applicants will be eligible, the Government has failed to allot the houses despite receiving thousands of applications over the years. Taking serious note, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) has directed Delhi Government to curtail housing projects for poor sanctioned under the UPA regime if they cannot be completed on time.
Under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) — the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government’s flagship scheme — the Delhi Government had to complete 16 low-cost housing projects by June 30, 2015. But only six are complete. The estimated cost of these projects was Rs 3,244 crore. Fifty per cent of the amount had to be borne by the Central Government.
In a communiqué to Delhi Chief Secretary SK Srivastava, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation has asked the State Government “to take necessary steps to expedite the completion of dwelling units under progress”. The Ministry has directed the Government that a “proposal for curtailment of the dwelling units not yet started may be sent to the Ministry”. Meanwhile, CAG has also pointed out that the Delhi Government and its associated civic bodies have not only failed on delivering requisite housing stock for the economically weaker sections but also fallen way short of the target of four lakh units under the first mission period of JnNURM.
A total 24 projects of 1,10,584 dwelling units were approved with an estimated cost of Rs 4,327.46 crore. Of these, 44,720 dwelling units were dropped after Delhi Government’s failure to provide hindrance-free site at various locations. One project of 1,200 dwelling units was dropped for inaction on the part of Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board while the work for 20,340 houses was yet to be awarded. The construction of 9,780 houses had been abandoned midway due to non-observance of norms of National Building Code. Only 14,844 houses were completed while 585 houses were allotted to slum dwellers till date.
Several agencies like the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) were entrusted with the task. Delhi Government officials say that many projects could not be completed and cited two such.
launched in 2005, the first phase of JnNURM was to end in 2012. However, with over 50 per cent of the projects remaining incomplete, it was extended till March 2014. Under the Basic Services to the Urban Poor — a sub-mission of JnNURM — the Congress-led UPA had approved the construction of some 68,000 flats for the economically weaker sections of society. Most of these projects are on the outskirts of Delhi.
The CAG in its draft report has came down heavily on DUSIB for failing to construct low-cost houses, saying works for 9,780 dwelling units under three projects were stopped soon after their award, because the width of staircase in all the blocks was not in accordance with the National Building Code. Projects were lying (May 2012) abandoned for want of final decision regarding revision in the building plan. Mobilisation advances of Rs 38.74 crore have been released, ignoring the fact that work was at standstill. Work on another project for 7,400 dwelling units was not awarded for the same reason.
“In two projects against the approved cost of Rs 28.45 crore, the DUSIB incurred an expenditure of Rs 35.46 crore (Rs 7 crore excess of approved cost) while several other items of work remained to be executed,” the CAG said. “Similarly delay on the part of DUSIB in finalisation of proposal of 1,340 dwelling units resulted in loss of opportunity as sanction of new projects under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission has since been closed,” it said. “How can you expect Siraspur project to complete on timeIJ There is an unauthorised colony in the middle of the project site. It has to be first cleared, which is not easy,” said an official. Over 4,000 units are to be constructed in Siraspur. “To construct over 8,000 flats in Tikri Kalan, the permission will have to be taken from the Forest Department,” officials added.