'We have successfully overcome crisis on sealing'

New Delhi, Apr 2: Reiterating that 99.5 per cent of the public in Delhi had been provided relief from sealing under the 2021 Delhi Master Plan, Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy today said the grave crisis over the last one year due to sealing and demolition had been successfully resolved.

''In the entire world history, no city has undergone as grave a crisis as Delhi has gone through. However, with the notification of the 2021 Delhi Master Plan, we have successfully emerged from the crisis,''Mr Reddy said at a joint press conference here along with Union Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken and president of the delhi Pradesh Congress Committee Rambabu Sharma.

''Though we have not been able to provide relief to 100 per cent of people in Delhi, we have neverthless succeeded in providing relief to 99.5 per cent of the public. That even the BJP has acknowledged our achievements is evident from the fact that they have chosen not to raise this issue in their electioneering for the polls,''Mr Reddy said.

''Besides providing relief from sealing through the MPD 2021, we have evolved a policy to benefit lakhs of 'rehri patrivallahs' in Delhi. Also, 1500 so called unauthorised colonies in Delhi were regularised by the Union Cabinet on February 8, a day after the notification of the Master Plan,'' he said.

Mr Reddy said the Delhi Cabinet had decided to provide Rs 2800 crore to improve infrastructure in unauthorised colonies.

''These (notification of the Master Plan and regularisation of unauthorised colonies) are two of the most pro-people steps taken by the Centre.

''Besides, we have evolved a policy to ensure 'in situ rehabilitation' of slum dwellers i.e, resettling them as far as possible near the place where the slums stood,'' Mr Reddy said.

On allegations from several quarters that the 'Master Plan was a document for the traders', Mr Reddy said,''what is wrong if the Government is providing relief to the traders. At the same time, I must state that the Master Plan has also brought relief to the common man.'' Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken said that for the first time the Master Plan has provisions for multi-level parking lots to solve the parking problem in Delhi.

Mr Maken reiterated that the Master Plan could only be implemented in its true letter and spirit of the Congress returned to helm of affairs in the MCD.

Addressing reporters, DPCC president Rambabu Sharma said,''the statement by Mr Reddy and Mr Maken puts to rest the state of confusion sought to be created by the BJP following sealing from March 28 of units running in violation of the Master Plan.''

UNI