With the AAP government embroiled in controversies, the latest victim of governance paralysis is the plan to transform Delhi into several smart sub-cities. The Union Urban Development Ministry notified guidelines for implementation of the Land Pooling Policy on May 25, but there has been no progress ever since. Ironically, almost the entire area under the policy (20,000 hectares) is yet to be declared as “Development Area” by the Delhi government. The region includes 95 villages, of which 89 have to be notified as “Urban Villages” by the Kejriwal government.
Both these provisions will help the DDA implement the policy. The “urban village” status to 89 villages will nullify provisions of the Delhi Land Reforms Act, 1954, which govern the State Government.
The matter is pending with the government since five months. Sources said the Delhi urban development ministry is reviewing the policy. But, with the series of controversies, a notification seems unlikely soon.
Among other hurdles the DDA might face include a possible lack of consensus among the land owners over how to redistribute developed land.
Convincing people to surrender land will be another challenge. “We have appointed a separate agency to spread awareness,” said Balvinder Kumar, DDA Vice-Chairman.
