RWAs protest development fee imposed on unauthorised colonies

New Delhi, Feb 20 (PTI) Over 100 resident welfareassociations of unauthorized colonies in trans-Yamuna areatoday decided to protest the imposition of a development feeof Rs 200 per square metre on them by the Delhi government.

The decision was taken at a meeting of office-bearersof RWAs of more than 100 unauthorised colonies of trans-Yamunapresided over by Delhi BJP President Vijender Gupta at RamlilaMaidan.

RWAs of Mandoli Extension, Harsh Vihar have announcedthat they will not deposit development fee of Rs 200 persquare metre imposed by the Delhi Government on unauthorizedcolonies.

Gupta said there was no justification of chargingextra development fee at the rate of Rs 200 per squaremetre when Delhi Government was charging fee at the rate of Rs500 per square metre for power, water, sewer connections andsanction of map.

"For the last 12 years Congress is in power in Delhibut not a single unauthorised colony has been regularised norbasic amenities have been provided in these colonies," Guptaalleged.

Accusing the Delhi government of not taking care ofthe unauthoried colonies, he said there are about 1,700 suchcolonies in the city in which more than 40 lakh poor peopleare living and have made arrangements for basic amenities byspending their hard-earned money.

He said during last election, Chief Minister SheilaDikshit had distributed provisional certificates to therepresentatives of the RWA of unauthorised colonies throughCongress President Sonia Gandhi with the promise that all thecolonies would be regularised free of cost.

"After elections Sheila Dikshit became Chief Ministerfor the third time but she forgot the promises made by her andSonia Gandhi. 40 Lakh people are living in hellish conditionsin these colonies. Now, the Government has imposed developmentfee arbitrarily," Gupta said.

He announced that until the Delhi Government does notwithdraw the development fee, the BJP along with RWAs ofunauthorised colonies would continue its movement.

Office bearers of more than 100 RWAs including HarshVihar, Ganga Sahaye Colony, Milan Garden, Sushila Garden,Rajiv Nagar, Mandoli Extension, Harijan Basti, Meet Nagar,Shiv Vihar, Jyoti Nagar, Jeevanpur Colony, Gokulpuri, PratapNagar and Ambedkar colony participated in the meeting.