Allocation for development of unauthorised colonies doubled

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government, in its Budget for the 2018-19 fiscal, has doubled the allocation for development of unauthorised colonies.

Starting from in-situ development to proper water line connection, the government has announced various steps for such colonies.

"The government is committed to providing better living conditions in unauthorised colonies by providing basic civic amenities like construction of roads and drains, water supply, sewerage, sanitation and street lights etc," said Manish Sisodia.

The funds are provided mainly to executing agencies such as Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, Irrigation and Flood Control Department and Delhi Jal Board.

"Rs 1,500 crore has been proposed for infrastructure development in unauthorised colonies, as against Rs 840 crores in the Revised Estimates 2017-18. It means funds for development of infrastructure in unauthorised colonies has been nearly doubled," Sisodia added.

"It is proposed to set up decentralised STPs (sewage treatment plants) where, at present, infrastructure of STPs does not exist. To start with, seven decentralised STPs to cover 20 unauthorised colonies and five villages will be taken up.

"The work shall be started by July 2018 and completed by December 2019," said Sisodia, elaborating on the steps taken for water connectivity in unauthorised colonies.

"Of the 1,665 unauthorised colonies, piped water supply network was extended to 1,209 colonies by December 2017 from 1,144 colonies in 2016-17. Piped water supply network in the remaining colonies will be extended by December 2018 in phased manner," said Sisodia.

He added that two reservoirs at Najafgarh and Mundka are at advanced stages of construction and will likely be completed by December 2018.

On commissioning of these two reservoirs, filtered water supply will be extended to around 80 unauthorised colonies and 10 villages.

Talking about in-situ development project of these colonies, Sisodia said, "DUSIB (Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board) will take up in-situ rehabilitation projects of JJ bastis at Sangam Park, Lajpat Nagar, Dev Nagar, Karol Bagh and Bhalswa Jahangirpuri. Work will start on this project after approval of Lieutenant Governor."

He added that DUSIB has been consistently making efforts to give good sanitation facilities to slum residents, giving them access to well-maintained and safe toilets in the neighbourhood.

"In the past three years, around 16,000 toilet seats were renovated/constructed. From January 1, 2018, these toilets complexes have been made available 24x7 to slum dwellers free of charge," he said.