The Times of India 21.08.2012
Regularize affluent colonies: Govt
NEW DELHI: Delhi government now wants the Centre to urgently consider bringing unauthorized colonies like Sainik Farms, Mahendru Enclave, Anant Ram Dairy and over a dozen other colonies termed as "affluent" under the purview of a policy. Not covered under the list of 1,639 colonies on the list of awaiting regularization, the state government is now making a pitch for regularization and subsequent development in colonies labelled as "affluent" but only after levies involving steep penalties on residents here.
It is learnt that Delhi chief secretary P K Tripathi's office has written a letter to Union ministry of urban development
on the affluent unauthorized colonies wherein it has been reiterated
that there is an urgent need to "take a view on the matter". So far the
affluent colonies have been kept out of the purview of regularization
because of the affluence and the many court cases pertaining to these
colonies, particularly in Sainik Farms, Mahendru Enclave and Anant Ram
Dairy.
Delhi government's comments were sought by Centre on the
draft guidelines for the colonies termed as affluent and the strategy
to organize these areas. It is learnt that the state is supportive of
the view that these colonies must be brought under a separate policy for
regularization by making the residents pay hefty penalties.
The state government is also of the view that as of now there is clarity
on the exact number of affluent colonies: around 17 odd colonies are
said to be affluent but a proper assessment needs to be done to
determine the affluence.
Earlier this year, a report on issues
related to unauthorized colonies put together by a group of ministers of
the state government had given its recommendations that even the
affluent colonies must be brought under the purview of developmental
work.
The GoM was of the view that since the KK Mathur committee report,
which defined an affluent colony as one with more than 50% plots
measuring 350 sq metres each, was not accepted by the Centre, thus there
is no reason for the state government to accept its recommendations
either. Hence, the GoM states that developmental work should be
undertaken in all the colonies declared affluent like Anupam Garden and
Freedom Fighters' Colony. The GoM played safe by steering clear of
controversy by stating that affluent colonies like Sainik Farms,
Mahendru Enclave and Anant Ram Dairy may be considered for development
works later.
The GoM report was submitted to the CM and a
subsequent discussion concluded that since Centre had already framed
draft guidelines and invited the state's comments, the matter of taking
up development works in affluent colonies cannot be considered for now.
