NEW DELHI (INDIA): The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has proposed that a legislation that provides relief to buildings in Delhi’s unauthorised colonies from demolition till 2017, be allowed to remain in force till 2020.
The Standing Committee of the BJP-led North Delhi Municipal Corporation passed a resolution to extend the enforcement period of the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act 2014, from the end of this year to December 31, 2020.
Tilak Raj Kataria, the chairman of the committee, said it would be a “one-time relief” and seeks to provide breather to many residents of such colonies, who are “living under the shadow of the wrecking ball”.
The civic body said the union urban affairs ministry had sought suggestions from it and now the NDMC’s proposal to give relief to unauthorised colonies till 2020, would be sent to the Centre.
There are over 1,600 unauthorised colonies in areas governed by the NDMC, including in the Old Delhi, according to the corporation.
“The meeting of the Standing Committee, therefore, resolves and recommends to the Government of India that provisions of the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act 2014 (Second Amendment), which are in force up to 31.12.2017, may be extended up to 31.12.2020 with exemption from all punitive actions against the unauthorised constructions up to 31.12.2016 in all categories,” the resolution said.
The bill was passed by Rajya Sabha by a voice vote in a hurried manner on the last day of the Winter Session in December 2014 when the city was poll-bound.
The urban planning of the city is governed by Building Bylaws as per the Master Plan of Delhi (MPD) 2021.
The NDMC plans to send the proposal to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for getting its approval.
During the panel’s meet at the Civic Centre here, however, there was a brief heated exchange between the members of the treasury and the opposition over a couple of issues.
Opposition members, including Priyanka Singh, Seema Tahira and Vikas Goyal, opposed the redevelopment plan of municipal flats on Minto Road, alleging the NDMC was hurriedly trying to implement the plan without considering all the aspects that affects its residents.
On layout plans of unauthorised colonies, Kataria said, the “plan hinges on their demarcation to be done by the Delhi government”.
“If they (Delhi government) do it, we will prepare the layout plan,” he said.
Asked if the NDMC has initiated any correspondence with the AAP dispensation in this connection, he said, “Only verbally we have communicated. But, we do plan to write to the city government.”
Source: Press Trust of India