Delhi govt approves slum rehabilitation policy

In the backdrop of the demolition of a slum in Shakur Basti which created political turmoil in the city, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) under the chairmanship of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday approved Delhi Slum & Jhuggi Jhopri Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy 2015. The policy envisages to provide flats to all the slum dwellers having evidence of living before February 14, 2015 in all the slums existed before January 1, 2006.

“These slum dwellers will be rehabilitated in the multi-storey flats constructed on the 60 per cent of the land while remaining 40 per cent will be given back to the land owning agency,” said a senior officer of DUSIB. The board has also reiterated the policy of Kejriwal government not to allow new slums and huts in the city. 

“The land owning agency like DDA may hand over their occupied lands to DUSIB on the same terms and conditions as it had handed over to a private builder in Kathputli Colony,” said the guidelines. As per the policy guidelines the commercial units in the slums will not be allotted the flats while mixed used properties will be allotted single units only. “All those families will be considered separate units having separate ration cards issued before the cut-off dates. Those not qualifying the criterion will be displaced without rehabilitation,” added the policy.

The policy also makes the provision of a four-member Appellate Authority headed by a retired judge of additional district judge rank to decide on the complaints of aggrieved slum dwellers. A slum dweller will have to deposit Rs 1.12 lakh for 25 sq meter flat plus Rs 30,000 at the time of maintenance towards the cost of maintenance for a period of five years. The EWS flats will be allotted on lease hold basis for a period of ten years and made free hold there after. DUSIB will be responsible for common services like staircase, open ground, water supply and electric supply systems up to the dwelling units;  external services eg sewer lines, roads, street lights, drainage and parks in these colonies for a period of five years though a pool of ‘DUSIB estate maintenance fund’. After five years the maintenance will be handed over to RWAs of the area.

The policy was approved with a rider to incorporate the suggestions of the Central government in the future. “After waiting for the reasonable time, the Board approved the policy with the stipulation that if any comments are received from any the Ministries of the Government of India such as Urban Development, HUPA and Railways, it will be incorporated in the said policy by mutual discussion and will then, issue the amended policy,” said a senior officer of Delhi government. “The policy could not be approved in the last meeting October 5 because the representative of Urban Development asked for some time to study the documents but no reply came so far,” he added.