CM wants speedier development of unauthorised areas

Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Thursday ordered speeding up of development work in unauthorised colonies which were given clearances by various concerned agencies for regularisation.

Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Thursday ordered speeding up of development work in unauthorised colonies which were given clearances by various concerned agencies for regularisation.

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Chairing a high-level meeting, Dikshit directed various agencies involved in infrastructure building to take up developmental work in the unauthorised colonies expeditiously.

Lack of developmental work in unauthorised colonies - which have been home to around 60 lakh people - was cited as a major reason for the Congress's defeat in the municipal polls in the city last month.

The assembly elections in Delhi are scheduled for next year and Congress MLAs have been pressing for carrying out development work in these colonies which constitute a major vote bank.

The Delhi government had issued provisional regularisation certificates (PRCs) to over 1,200 unauthorised colonies ahead of assembly polls in 2008.

The then Dikshit government, while distributing the certificates, had promised to regularise the colonies if the Congress came to power for the third term. However, not a single colony has been regularised so far.

The process slowed down considerably last year following allegations that some "non-existent" as well as "ineligible" colonies were given provisional regularisation certificates flouting norms.

Officials said the chief minister has asked concerned agencies to carry out infrastructure development in 1,018 colonies which have received clearance from all concerned departments and agencies.