RWAs against commercialisation of residential areas

New Delhi, May 2 (UNI) The Residential Welfare Associations (RWAs) in various areas of Delhi today strongly opposed setting up of commercial complexes in residential areas, saying the introduction of any law to regularise such complexes would be tantamount to a breach of trust by the Government.

In a meeting today with the monitoring committee appointed by the Supreme Court on sealing of commercial units in residential areas in the capital, the majority of RWAs demanded ban on commercial use of residential premises.

''The civic facilities in all the residential areas have been built for residential purposes. In this context, setting up of commercial units in these areas would lead to excessive pressure on these facilities, causing a law and order problem. Naturally, we cannot allow residential areas to be utilised for commercial purposes and if fthe Government makes any move in this direction, people will take to the streets, '' president of the RWA Jt Forum V C Tandon said in his representation to the committee.

The RWA in the Green Park Extension said if the government brings a law to regularise commercial areas, it would amount a breach of trust. At the same time, RWA representatives from South Extension Part II said coming up of commercial complexes in residential areas had led to paucity of parking space.

A representative of the RWA from Alaknanda, however, favoured setting up of small shops in residential areas, saying coming up of these shops in residential complexes made it convenient for people of these areas to get objects of their need within 200 m distance of their homes. Further, he said, these shops also led to better employment opportunities for the youth.

''Hence, these shops should be allowed in residential areas under the mixed land use policy,''Mr Sharma said.

As many as 350 RWAs attended the meeting, which lasted nearly three hours.

Later, addressing newspersons, monitoring committee chairman K J Rao said the committee had heard the suggestions of the RWAs and all of them would be duly considered by it and the meaningful suggestions among them incorporated in its report before the Supreme Court.

The Supreme court has asked the committee to submit its report by May 4, a day before thehearing where it is to consider the plea of the Centre for putting a six-month moratorium on sealing.

MORE UNI AR RL RS1926