Delhi government seeks relaxation of norms for unauthorised colonies

NEW DELHI: Delhi government today requested the Centre to relax certain norms in regularisation of unauthorised colonies here which were given provisional regularisation certificates in 2008.

Delhi Urban Development Minister A K Walia conveyed the request during a meeting with Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath this evening.

Walia specifically requested Nath to help Delhi government in regularisation of such colonies which were given clearances by various government departments and agencies.

The meeting came a day after CM Sheila Dikshit ordered speeding up of development works in such colonies.

Lack of developmental work in unauthorised colonies, which have been home to around 60 lakh people, was cited as a major reason for Congress' defeat in the civic polls recently.

Delhi government had issued provisional regularisation certificates (PRCs) to over 1,200 unauthorised colonies ahead of assembly polls in 2008.

The then government, while distributing certificates, had promised to regularise the colonies if Congress came to power for third term. However, not a colony has been regularised so far.

Sources said Walia requested Nath to relax certain norms about prescribed built up areas for regularisation.

Walia requested Nath to allow the government to consider the boundaries of unauthorised colonies for regularisation as per the records of 2008 and not as per the records of 2002.

As per norms, unauthorised colonies, which came up prior to March 31, 2002 and which had 50 per cent built-up area as on February 8, 2007, were eligible for PRCs.