"Historic Decision": 40 Lakh People In Delhi's Unauthorised Colonies To Get Ownership Rights

In September, the Aam Aadmi Party had alleged that the BJP had made a false promise to the people of Delhi when it said the unauthorised colonies will be regularised in six months.

Representational Picture (AFP)

NEW DELHI: In a major decision, the Centre on Wednesday announced that forty lakh people living in unauthorised colonies in the national capital will be given ownership rights. "Cabinet has taken historic decision to give ownership rights to 40 lakh people living in unauthorised colonies in Delhi," Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said. Delhi houses approximately 1,797 unauthorised colonies. The timing of the decision is significant as Delhi is scheduled for assembly elections in a couple of months. The regularisation of unauthorised colonies has been a major issue and often erupts before elections. While the BJP has blamed the Kejriwal-led AAP government for ignoring these settlements, the AAP has claimed that the Modi government intends to uproot them . ALSO READ: Backing Arvind Kejriwal, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Demands Full Statehood For Delhi In September, the Aam Aadmi Party had alleged that the BJP had made a false promise to the people of Delhi when it said the unauthorised colonies will be regularised in six months. In June this year, the Delhi government had proposed a set of parameters to Centre to regularise 1,797 unauthorised colonies in the city. The Delhi government had also proposed to charge one per cent cost of land circle rate for up to 200 square metre plot from occupants and a nominal penalty, reported news agency IANS.

I thank PM Shri @narendramodi ji for the unprecedented decision to grant Cabinet approval to Regularisation of over 1700 Unauthorised Colonies Of Delhi. What a transformation it will bring in the lives of lakhs of our people! Kudos to our visionary leader! @BJP4India @BJP4Delhi

— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) October 23, 2019

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had also then slammed the Kejriwal government for doing nothing to regularise these settlements. " I thank PM Shri @narendramodi ji for the unprecedented decision to grant Cabinet approval to Regularisation of over 1700 Unauthorised Colonies Of Delhi. What a transformation it will bring in the lives of lakhs of our people! Kudos to our visionary leader!," he tweeted today.