The Hindu 30.11.2010
‘MCD slow in development of illegal colonies’
Special Correspondent
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Onus of finalising the layout plans lies with the civic body, says Delhi |
‘Rs.3,326 crore given to MCD for development since 1998′
‘MLAs prefer DSIIDC, other agencies for development works’
NEW DELHI: Delhi Urban Development Minister A.K. Walia on Monday
accused the Municipal Corporation of Delhi of being slow in the issue of
approving the layout plans of colonies due to which regularisation work
was getting delayed.
“The Delhi Government sent drawings of 700 unauthorised colonies to
the MCD out of which it returned layout plan of only six. With this pace
the regularisation process will never be completed. The onus lies with
the MCD to finalise the layout plans so that Delhi Government could
approach the High Court for their regularisation,” Dr. Walia said.
He was replying to a motion on property tax on unauthorised colonies
and urbanised villages that was moved by Congress MLA Mukesh Sharma in
the Delhi Assembly and was later adopted by voice vote by the House.
The Minister said the MCD has already been collecting property tax
from 9 lakh dwelling units in unauthorised colonies, urban villages and
rural villages and the collection in 2009-10 was Rs.20 crore, Rs.2 crore
and Rs.8 crore respectively. However, due to its inability to maintain
these colonies, parks and roads well the MLAs are also not interested in
getting their developmental works done under MLA LAD Fund from the
Corporation. “They prefer Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure
Development Corporation and Irrigation and Flood Control Department for
this purpose.”
Dr. Walia said in all Rs.3,326 crore has been given to the MCD for
development in unauthorised colonies since 1998. Of this, Rs.749 crore
have been approved for 2010-11 and out of this Rs.335 crore has been
released till date.
The Minister said roads and drains have been laid in 1,033
unauthorised colonies out of which 537 have been done by DSIIDC, 281 by
I&FC and 215 by the MCD. In all 260 estimates amounting to Rs.145.93
crore were approved out of which 24 belonged to the MCD worth Rs.9.6
crore, 97 to DSIIDC amounting to Rs.58 crore, 53 to I&FC amounting
to Rs.28 crore and 86 to Delhi Jal Board amounting to Rs.49 crore.
The DJB has laid sewer lines in 98 colonies; water lines in 726
colonies and distribution of water has started in 630 colonies. Street
lights have been provided in 1,250 colonies whereas all 1,639
unauthorised colonies have been electrified.
Earlier initiating the motion, Mr. Sharma charged that the BJP, which
was in power in the MCD, was misleading the people on the issue of
property tax. “The MCD wants to tax 40 lakh people living in 1,639
unauthorised colonies and 360 villages of Delhi but neither is it
undertaking any development activities there and nor is it using the Rs.
60 crore which the Delhi Government gives it annually on keeping the
unauthorised colonies clean.”
The Congress MLA said while 25,000 people have already been issued
notices for property tax, the Congress would vehemently oppose it and
would even agitate against it.
He said the MCD was only stopping development and nothing else. “They
would ask for maps on every pretext knowing full well that the
Development Department of the Delhi Government was looking after this
issue.”
“These colonies and villages are the ones that had returned the
Congress to power for the third time. It is in our manifesto that they
would not be charged property tax till they are regularised. We should
not renege on our promise,” he said.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly V.K. Malhotra in a
statement denounced the manner in which the Delhi Government has
betrayed unauthorised colonies by not regularising them so far despite
having issued provisional certificates to them in 2008.
He said the development work through DSIIDC and I&FC departments
has now come to a stop as “the budget allocated foron drains, sewer and
brick roads had been diverted to the Commonwealth Games projects.”
