The Hindu : Front Page : Delhi Assembly wants demolitions to stop

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 21, 2005

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Delhi Assembly wants demolitions to stop

Sujay Mehdudia

Passes resolution over the issue; Govt. to move High Court for relief to affected people

NEW DELHI: Setting the stage for a possible confrontation with the Delhi High Court over the issue of demolitions, the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution stating that all constructions and shops running in residential areas of the city may be regularised in public interest and "demolitions should be stopped'' with immediate effect in these areas.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit along with Urban Development Minister A.K. Walia, who replied to the debate in the Assembly, assured the agitated members that the Delhi Government along with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi planned to move the High Court to seek relief for the affected people. The Court would be urged to give more time till the process for regularisation of the present structures was set in motion and approved by the appropriate authority.

Ms. Dikshit said things would not be allowed to drift and already her Government was in action mode. "The present character of the Capital would be maintained and the Court would be approached for seeking more time to resolve the issue."

In his reply to the debate, Dr. Walia said it was time to get more powers for the Delhi Government and the Union Government would be approached to place land and police under the State Government. He said there was shortage of housing in Delhi and people had no alternative but to make adjustments in the present premises in view of the expanded families. Asking everyone to rise above party lines, Dr. Walia said the Government was determined to resolve the issue. "If the Master Plan needs to be changed, then the Union Urban Development Ministry could be approached. Legislators should send us their suggestions within two to three days on the changes needed in the Master Plan and what possibly could be done to regularise these illegal structures,'' he added.

Supporting the resolution moved by Mukesh Sharma (Congress), Ramvir Singh Bidhuri (NCP) and Harsharan Singh Balli (BJP), Dr. Walia urged the House to pass the resolution unanimously and assured full action at his end at the earliest.

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