Delhi Masterplan out of bag

Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath on Friday said urbanisation was a natural part of the developmental process and in the last couple of decades has gathered significant momentum.

Announcing the current master plan for Delhi, Nath said there were many religious structures in the capital and there was an urgent need to ‘fully regularise’ them.

Nath said the ministry was examining the ground position with regard to various religious structures in Delhi.

‘We have not counted them. The process is on. We cannot raze religious structures. All the structures which have been built before 2007 will be regularised and some way would be found out to give parking space there,’ Nath said.

Sources said around 50 illegal temples and mosques in Delhi need to be regularised.

Addressing a press conference organised by Delhi Development Authority [DDA], Nath said DDA has been directed to focus on providing housing for the economically weaker sections [EWS] of the society. Construction of 20,040 EWS houses and LIG flats using prefab technology has been started in Dwarka and Rohini at an estimated cost of Rs 5,500 crore.

In situ development and rehabilitation has been taken up in Kathputli Colony, Kalkaji and Kusumpur Pahari. As many as 21 such clusters have been identified for rehabilitation by DDA and will be done in a phased manner.

Nath said, ‘The policy on land pooling, which replaces the policy for large scale acquisition of land and makes farmers partners in the development process, is at an advance stage of formulation and is likely to be finalised within a month.’

Developing biodiversity parks is one of the thrust areas of DDA. A Yamuna River Front [22 Km] is being developed  for recreational facilities.

DDA has also planned four socio-cultural centres on the pattern of India Habitat Centre in different zones. Sites for three zones have already been identified. In order to provide space for social gatherings and considering the shortage of such space in Delhi, DDA has planned nearly 53 community halls in almost every zone of the city. The minister further said that a football stadium has been planned in Dwarka.