LG-CM war of words leave slum dwellers in lurch

NEW DELHI: Rehabilitation of slum dwellers in central Delhi's Kathputli Colony has been facing a long delay, as the Delhi government and Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal continue to be at loggerheads.

The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), headed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has put its plan to provide houses to 2,500 families across Delhi on hold.

These 2,500 families, living in some 20 slum clusters across the city, have even paid Rs 68,000 each to the Delhi government in 2013 as their share to build houses.

They are among the 4,000 families that have paid the money.

However, only 1,500 have been given houses so far.

In a letter to the Lieutenant Governor written on January 4, the Chief Minister said that despite the development work being handed over to real estate company Raheja Developers in 2009, not much progress has been made to build houses for the Kathputli Colony slum dwellers.

"I request the LG, also the chairman of DDA, to transfer all the (development projects for slum dwellers) in DDA land parcels to DUSIB/Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi for rehabilitation. (The) Delhi government will rehabilitate all the JJ Bastis within a period of three years," the letter said.

However, a deeper look into the performance of the shelter Board gives the impression that it may be as remiss as the DDA.

Ironically though, Kejriwal, earlier this month, accused Baijal of delaying the rehabilitation of evicted slum dwellers of Kathputli Colony, which comes under the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

DDA looks after the rehabilitation of slum clusters in areas where it owns the land, while in areas where the government owns the land, rehabilitation is done by DUSIB.

Criticising the LG for the delay, the Chief Minister had also asked Baijal to transfer all slum clusters for rehabilitation under the DDA to the Delhi government, promising to "complete it (rehabilitation) within a period of three years".

Ever since the Aam Aadmi Party came to power in Delhi in 2015, Kejriwal has had rocky ties with Baijal, as well as his predecessor Najeeb Jung, over who the real administrator of the city is.