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1,500 illegal colonies get a legit address
Master Plan 2021 allows regularisation of 1,500 unauthorised colonies that came up before March 2002, reports Aruna P Sharma.
The new Master Plan announced on Thursday not only removes the cap on vertical growth of Delhi, as first reported in the Hindustan Times, but also allows regularisation of thousands of unauthorised constructions and shops that currently face demolition or sealing action.
Master Plan 2021 allows regularisation of shops and commercial establishments on major roads, unauthorised constructions in residential colonies and 1,500 unauthorised colonies that came up before March 2002. Even structures outside the village precincts — or Lal Dora land — can be regularised.
Making the announcement, Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy, with Minister of State Ajay Maken by his side, said it was a “win-win” Master Plan for Delhi.
The large-scale regularisation move comes ahead of the municipal elections in the city, to be held around March, and is being seen as an attempt to soothe frayed tempers, particularly of traders. The Congress government’s popularity had taken a severe beating during the sealing and demolition drives.
But it is still early days for the traders to celebrate as the new Master Plan is yet to be cleared by the Supreme Court, which is looking into the sealing issue. On Thursday, the court stayed sealing operations till February 12, when it said it would examine the Master Plan.
The government is confident that the Master Plan will have no problems. “I am confident that the new Master Plan will stand the legal scrutiny of the Supreme Court,” Reddy said.
The minister said posh unauthorised colonies like Mahendru Enclave, Sainik Farms and Anant Ram Dairy could now look forward to getting regularised as the cabinet approved their regularisation in principle on Thursday. He said the regularisation of unauthorised colonies is the first of its kind after a gap of 30 years.
Email Aruna P Sharma: arunasharma@hindustantimes.com
