Govt to bring New Master Plan, amend building by-laws: Maken

New Delhi, July 21 (UNI) Union Minister of state for Urban Development Ajay Maken has said the government would bring about necessary amendments in building by-laws and come out with a fresh master plan to allow commercial activities in residential areas and achieve a permanent solution to the problem of unauthorised constructions in the capital.

Addressing a public meeting in support of Congress candidate for the July 23 MCD bypoll for the Subhash Nagar ward last night, Mr Maken said the Congress had always taken care of the interests of the poor and would not allow bulldozers on their dwellings.

He said the Government was giving serious consideration to the questions raised by the Supreme Court on the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006, promulgated to put a one year moratorium on the sealing of commercial units in residential areas and demolition of unauthorised structures.

Criticising the BJP for what he described as its double standards on the issue of sealing and demolitions, Mr Maken said,''on the one hand, many BJP leaders are resorting to jail bharo agitation to attract the sympathy of the common man, while on the other, those like senior BJP leader and fromer Urban Development minister Jagmohan had supported demolitions.

He also alleged that an organisation owned by the father of BJP leader and former Union Minister Arun Shourie was among those who had filed a writ in court against the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006.

He said the Government would affect certain amendments in the Delhi Master Plan to allow commercial activities in residential areas. Also, efforts would be made to make building by-laws more flexible to enable the poor to live without fear.

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