Centre to legalise 1400 Delhi colonies, protect places of worship

New Delhi, May 15 (UNI) The Centre today said the Government will protect all places of worship from demolition and legalise 1400 unauthorised colonies besides desealing the the shops sealed during the ongoing MCD drive.

The assurance was given by Union Minister for Urban Development Jaipal Reddy in the Rajya Sabha, while replying to the discussion on the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Bill, which was later unanimously passed by the House.

Mr Reddy also said that those whose properties had been listed by the MCD for demolitions, but had filed affidavits, will get all the benefit unde the Bill.

''The poor had as much right to live in the city as the rich.

Most of the comforts the rich enjoyed today were because of the services of the poor,'' he noted, adding that his Ministry will soon prepare a Cabinet note on legalising the 1400 unauthorised colonies, inhabited by about 20,000 people.

Mr Reddy also assured protection to all places of worship.''Our policy is not to repeat the tragedy that happened in Vadodra recently'' he said.

He said the present Bill gives relief to all classes of people in Delhi. The Supreme Court was dealing with only shops but there were also other categories of people like slum dwellers, who had to violate the law for compelling reasons, he said.

The Minister, however, said that major encroachement on public lands will not be tolerated and no exemptions would be given to them.

He said in Delhi, the government was faced with an extraordinary situation as most of the people were on the wrong side of the law when it came to land use.

''Delhi was not built in a day neither would we allow it to be demolished in a day,'' he said.

The present situation has arisen over the years, not in a day, he added, criticising the NDA Government for not finalising the Master Plan 2021 allowing mixed land use.

Had the previous government not delayed the matter, the present situation could have been avoided, he said, also rapping the NDA government for rejecting the recommendations of a Delhi Government committee for liberalising the land use conditions.

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