When will you regularise colonies, Jain asks Centre

Delhi Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday asked the Central government to clarify once and for all if it wanted to regularise unauthorised colonies across the national Capital.

Jain's remarks came a day after Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken attacked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on the issue, saying it has failed to regularlise even one unauthorised colony in the past two years.

Speaking to reporters here, Jain – who also holds the Health portfolio – said the Delhi government was ready to issue the "regularisation certificate" to nearly 1,640 unauthorised colonies "within 24 hours" if the Centre approved it.

"In the meantime, work is going on a war footing to provide basic facilities in all these colonies till they are regularised," he said.

Jain said he had written to the Centre in November 2015, asking for regularisation of these colonies.

"In September last year, they sent us a large number of queries which will take years to answer even if we want to.

"Even the Delhi High Court [on Wednesday] took notice of that and asked the Centre to reply within four weeks if it wants to regularise these colonies at all," he said.

Jain said that the Urban Development department has issued orders that development works shall be carried out in unauthorised colonies having hindrances or not having 50 percent built up area as per regularisation.

He added that most of the unauthorised colonies have been developed on DDA land, which is why his department sent the High Court's notice for regularisation so as to carry out development works.

The Delhi Jal Board would provide a list of colonies giving status of water and sewerage works which have already been executed and the ones which are being planned for the next three years so that respective departments could plan their development works accordingly.