New Delhi:EROS TIMES: On the directions of the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Urban Development department of Delhi has released Rs. 500 crore to the Irrigation & Flood Control department for the purpose of carrying out basic development works in the unauthorised colonies of Delhi.
The fund has been transferred to the Irrigation & Flood Control Department (I&FC) under the head of “Development of Unauthorised Colonies” for the financial year 2019-2020.
The Chief Minister directed the UD department to ensure that there is no financial constraint for the development work of unauthorised colonies and funds must be released on time.
The Chief Minister had been personally constantly monitoring and looking after the developmental works in the unauthorised colonies of the national capital since he assumed power in 2015.
The work of providing basic developmental facilities – sewers, drains, roads and lanes is going on a war footing in unauthorised colonies. Water distribution lines are being laid by the Delhi Jal Board.
He is of the view that every citizen has right to live a dignified life and the government must provide all citizens with the same. Since 2015, he has been working for the betterment and regularisation of the unauthorised colonies.
He has been visiting unauthorised colonies to monitor the developmental works, apart from calling regular review meetings to check the financial & administrative requirements for the betterment of the unauthorised colonies.
The total budget allocation for the development works in unauthorised colonies in the current financial year is Rs. 1,500/- crores.
Out of the total budget, Rs. 700/- crores have now been released to Irrigation & Flood Control department for the development works to be carried out.
Before 2015, neither MCD councillors nor MLALAD funds could be spent on the development works in unauthorised colonies.
Kejriwal government amended the MLALAD guidelines to allow the elected representatives to spend their MLALAD for providing basic facilities in these colonies.
However, MCDs still do not allow their councillors to spend funds in unauthorised colonies.
On Thursday, July 18, the Chief Minister announced that the residents of the unauthorised colonies will get the ownership rights of their properties soon. The Delhi cabinet’s proposal to regularise colonies was sent to the Centre in November 2015.
The Delhi cabinet had cleared the proposal to regularise 1797 colonies on 2nd November 2015 and sent it to the Centre on 12th November 2015. The Centre has now sent a communication to the Delhi government stating its in-principle approval for regularisation of 1797 unauthorised colonies.
The Chief Minister also informed on Thursday that he has directed officers to prepare for large scale registry of homes in the unauthorised colonies. Delhi government has spent/allocated the highest ever amount of money for providing basic amenities in unauthorised colonies.