Bill to regularise illegal colonies introduced in LS

New Delhi: A bill, which seeks to provide a legal framework to grant ownership rights to about 40 lakh people living in 1,797 identified unauthorised colonies in Delhi, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Union housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri introduced the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Unauthorised Colonies) Bill, 2019, in the House.

The government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, however, excluded 69 affluent neighbourhoods and those built on forest land from its decision to regularise unauthorised colonies.

The bill will grant ownership rights to the unauthorised colonies spread over 175 sq. km of the national capital which is inhabited by people from lower income groups.

Among the affluent colonies excluded from the regularisation process in the bill are Sainik Farms, Freedom Fighters Enclave, Neb Sarai area, Chattarpur Enclave, Anant Ram Dairy, Shanti Kunj, Mahendru Enclave, and Sultan Apartment.

The decision to regularise unauthorised colonies is politically significant as it will benefit millions of poor migrants who hold the key to the Assembly election due early next year and had backed AAP in large numbers in the 2015 Delhi polls.  

Both the BJP and AAP have been working to woo voters and the authorisation of these colonies is a key poll promise.

The AAP had targeted the Central government over the delay in introducing the bill in the House.

AAP leaders observed ‘Dhoka Diwas’ across the national capital last week as they held protests against BJP’s “false promise” of regularising unauthorised colonies.

Terming the promise of regularising unauthorised colonies an “election gimmick,” the party leaders visited the unauthorised colonies in the national capital and spoke to the residents on the issue.

AAP has already instructed its legislators to put up boards and hoardings thanking chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for this public welfare measure. The move is likely to be a game changer and help AAP retain a majority of seats in the 70-member Delhi Assembly.