While the Central government is working on giving land rights to 1,797 unauthorised colonies in Delhi, a separate proposal for conferring the rights to residents of the more affluent illegal colonies, like Sainik Farms, Anant Ram Dairy and Mahendru Enclave, could also be considered, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry officials said.
After a committee chaired by Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal submitted its recommendations for conferring ownership and transfer rights in unauthorised colonies to the Ministry in June, the Cabinet note was circulated among stakeholders, including the Delhi government. According to sources, the proposal regarding 1,797 unauthorised colonies could be taken up by the Cabinet soon.
A senior Ministry official said the issue of granting rights to the affluent unauthorised rights would have to be taken up separately. As a part of the legalisation process, a charge would be levied that would be lower for the 1,797 colonies compared to the affluent ones, another official said.
A long-pending demand of the residents of these colonies, an earlier proposal included the colonies that existed as on March 31, 2002 and with 50% unauthorised occupancy as on March 24, 2008. The cut-off was extended by the Narendra Modi government for colonies in existence as on June 1, 2014 and with 50% occupancy as on January 1, 2015.
In March this year, the Ministry had appointed the committee headed by the Mr. Baijal to suggest the modalities for the process of granting ownership rights and transfer rights. With Delhi Assembly election expected soon, the approval and implementation of the legalisation of colonies could be announced before the model code of conduct is enforced, sources said.