The Delhi Cabinet met on Wednesday to discuss the latest provisions of the Master Plan and found that it was still lacking in policies to help the people out from sealings and demolitions.
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit apprised her Cabinet colleagues on the deliberations of the meeting of Group of Ministers and what is in store in the MPD.
Much to their horror, the ministers found that certain key recommendations like increasing the number of storeys to four in plotted housing colonies, regularising the balconies and extensions, 100 per cent coverage on plots upto 250 metres etc have not been accepted.
Moreover, the basements have not been opened for commercial activity and neither have the professionals been permitted to practice their trade anywhere they like. They would still be required to practice their trade from their self-occupied houses.
"If these recommendations are accepted, 80 per cent of the problem would have been tackled," said a minister on condition of anonymity.
What has further created a furore in the Cabinet is the non-inclusion of any reference to the resettlement colonies. There are 44 resettlement colonies and close to 25 lakh people reside in the densely populated clusters. "No relief has been given to these colonies. This will invited the bulldozers in the near future," said Development Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan.
{{/usCountry}}What has further created a furore in the Cabinet is the non-inclusion of any reference to the resettlement colonies. There are 44 resettlement colonies and close to 25 lakh people reside in the densely populated clusters. "No relief has been given to these colonies. This will invited the bulldozers in the near future," said Development Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan.
{{/usCountry}}Legally, the residents in these colonies can construct only 1.5 storeys though almost all have made 3-4 storeys. While considerable relaxation has been given for 32 metre plots, the resettlement colonies have been completely left out.
As the GoM has authorised the Urban Development ministry to include more suggestions in the next 15 days, the Delhi government would send a fresh list to the ministry by the end of this week. Another Cabinet meeting would be held on Thursday to chalk out the new wish list of the state government.
"A majority of or recommendations have been accepted. There is still some time. We would send another request to the ministry," Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
E-mail Amitabh Shukla: ashukla@hindustantimes.com