The Hindu : New Delhi News : Congress Govt. misleading people: Goel

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 17, 2006
ePaper

New Delhi

New Delhi

Congress Govt. misleading people: Goel

Staff Reporter

`Sealing and demolitions harassing people'

NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Vijay Goel has accused the Congress Governments in Delhi and at the Centre of indulging in road shows and vote bank politics showing little concern for the sufferings and harassment of lakhs of people who continue to face the threat of sealing and demolition of property.

Regarding the latest notification of the Delhi Government clearing 2,204 roads and streets for mixed land and commercial use, Mr. Goel said it was unfortunate that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi that was responsible for the present mess was entrusted with the task of identifying and notifying new roads and streets for mixed land and commercial use. Similarly, he said the Monitoring Committee appointed by the Supreme Court had declined to accept the notification issued by the Delhi Government and the Union Urban Development Ministry and had directed the MCD to carry on with the sealing and demolition exercise in the Capital.

"The Congress created a false impression that the sealing and demolitions would come to an end in Delhi once the notification is issued. But the ground realities are quite different and there is hardly any relief for the common man or those fearing for their property and livelihood,'' he stated.

Describing the situation as unfortunate and sad, Mr. Goel said the people did not know what would happen to them next. "One day the court passes directions, the next day the Government comes out with some notification. The court again strikes it down and the Government again comes out with a notification. The people of Delhi are being treated like a football and are being kicked from one goal post to another,'' he added.

He said the authorities should have formulated a comprehensive policy on commercial activities and mixed land use instead of taking decisions road by road on commercial activities and mixed land use. The irony of the situation was that the MCD, which allowed illegal construction and mushrooming of illegal colonies, had now been authorised to decide where the commercial activities would run and where mixed land use would be allowed, he added.

Mr. Goel said the Congress Party wanted to show the people of Delhi that it wanted to give relief to them but the court was not relenting. "The Delhi Government and the Union Urban Development Ministry know very well that these notifications will not stand the scrutiny of the court," he added.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi