Damocles’ sword over 1,218 illegal colonies

Residents, who had purchased flats in unauthorised colonies, having provisional certificates from the government, may be in for a rude shock. With allegations of land-bungling surfacing, the government is planning to conduct a fresh survey of all 1,218 colonies to ascertain their exact built-up area. NeelamPandey reports.

Residents, who had purchased flats in unauthorised colonies, having provisional certificates from the government, may be in for a rude shock. With allegations of land-bungling surfacing, the government is planning to conduct a fresh survey of all 1,218 colonies to ascertain their exact built-up area.

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The government says the survey conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is not accurate, and hence, a fresh one will be carried out.

According to sources, provisional certificates of a number of colonies might get cancelled as most of these do not meet the eligibility criteria of having at least 50% built-up area.

The government is planning to seek the Survey of India's help to provide them with the aerial images of the colonies.

A total of 1,218 unauthorised colonies out of 1,638 had received provisional certificates in 2008. The certificates were viewed as a step towards complete regularisation.

“In a report submitted by the divisional commissioner, questions have been raised about the authenticity of the MCD survey, claiming that it was carried out in a hurry. Also, the survey was undertaken in 2008, whereas the government had set a cut-off date of 2007 as the eligibility criteria for all the colonies to qualify for regularisation,” said a source.

Officials added that in the report it has been stated that when the aerial images of 2002 and 2007 are available to the government, why the MCD survey should be consulted.

“The aerial images with us depict even the vehicles parked there. Using those images, a boundary line should be created and it should be assessed whether they fulfil the criteria of 50% built-up area. When technology is there to aid us, why take subjective views?” said an official.

Last month, the urban development department had sent notices to 125 colonies that had got provisional certificates as they do not meet the criteria.