To reach out to the huge 40-50 lakh migrant population in the national capital in over 1,700 unauthorised colonies ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Narendra Modi Government on Thursday approved a proposal to constitute a committee, under the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, to recommend a process to confer ownership or transfer rights to residents of unauthorised colonies. The 10-member committee will submit its report within 90 days to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
After the report is submitted, Cabinet Secretariat will be informed and further action taken after considering recommendations of the Committee. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Committee will comprise of Vice Chairman, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Additional Secretary, MoHUA, Delhi Chief Secretary, Commissioners of three MCDs, Chairman, Delhi Urban Arts Commission, Professor, Urban Transport, School of Planning & Architecture (SPA), Urban Planner & Director, National Institute of Urban Affairs, former Director, Delhi Fire Services and Principal Commissioner, DDA as Member Secretary.
Union Minister Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of “delaying” the process of regularising unauthorised colonies.
Reacting to the Union Cabinet’s decision, Kejriwal sought to know what the BJP was doing in the last five years over the issue and alleged that they (the BJP) do the same thing before every election and later, forget their promises.
Sources said the Committee will suggest process or mechanism for conferring/ recognizing rights of ownership or transfer/ mortgage to the residents of unauthorized colonies and consequential benefits.
The Committee will look into all these issues, examine the need and recommend the process to consider conferment/ recognition of rights of ownership or transfer/mortgage of property for creating an opportunity for redevelopment of such areas for improving the quality of lives of residents in a planned manner through urban renewal.