AAP govt approves new slum and jhugg-jhopdi rehab policy

New Delhi, Jul 8: Moving towards fulfilling one of its poll promises, the AAP government in Delhi today approved the new slum and jhugg-jhopdi rehabilitation policy under which slums which came up before January 2015 will not be demolished without providing alternative accommodation to its dwellers. The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at Delhi Secretariat.

As per the decision, the cut-off date for eligibility for alternative accommodation for slum and jhuggi-jhopri dwellers has been revised from June 4, 2009 to January 1, 2015, but JJ clusters must have been in existence prior to January 1, 2006. "No new jhuggi will be allowed in the capital built after January 1, 2015.

As per the policy, the name of jhuggi-jhopri dweller must exist in at least one of the electoral rolls of 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and also in the year of survey, for the purpose of rehabilitation," a senior government official said. JJ clusters, which have come up before January 1, 2006, will not be demolished without providing alternative accommodation, as per the proposed policy guidelines.

The official further said that Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) will function as the nodal agency and rehabilitate the eligible JJ dwellers before removal of jhuggies as per this policy. The same policy was earlier approved by DUSIB at its board meeting.

Attempts will be made to rehabilitate eligible jhuggi jhopri-dwellers at the same location or a nearby place within a radius of five kilometres, he said. During Delhi Assembly polls, Aam Aadmi Party had promised to provide 'jahan jhuggi wahan makan' (where there are jhuggis, there will be homes). In the budget, government had also allocated Rs 100 crore for rehabilitation of JJ clusters.

PTI