BJP uses Cong tactic, pushes for regularisation

Party demands regularisation of colonies that came up as recent as 2013; Delhi BJP chief says draft policy in 15-20 days

Satish Upadhyay at the Delhi BJP office on Tuesday

The BJP may have accused the Congress of using regularisation of unauthorised colonies as an election tool in 2008. But now, the party itself has demanded that unauthorised colonies that came up even as late as 2013 should be regularised. In fact, the Delhi BJP chief said a draft policy for the same would be ready within 15-20 days.

The decision is being seen as a big move by the BJP, considering regularisation was being done only for unauthorised colonies that came up before 2007. But, Delhi BJP leaders believe that the move is likely to benefit the party if fresh Assembly elections are held in the capital.

Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said on Tuesday that all Delhi politicians — MPs, councillors, unit presidents and mayors — met Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu and demanded that unauthorised colonies that have come up till 2013 should also be covered under the ambit of the regularisation process.

“The draft policy to this effect should be ready within 15-20 days. The minister has directed all relevant agencies to sort out all technicalities for the regularising 1,600-odd colonies within three months. We hope that the process would not be restricted to colonies that have come up till 2007,” Upadhyay said.

“To enable meaningful urban development, we need to take a fresh look at regularisation of unauthorised colonies in Delhi. A concept paper has to be prepared within 15 days, after which the Delhi government, in consultation with Union Urban Development Ministry, will prepare an action plan,” a statement issued by the UD Ministry said.

Upadhyay, who is also the chairperson of Standing Committee of South Municipal Corporation, has directed the three corporations to begin the process of sorting out the technicalities. He has also sent a warning to those Delhi government officials who are not working “efficiently”.

Meanwhile, party leaders on Monday said there was need to change the law which made it mandatory to get the layout plan passed by the corporations for the plots up to 200 metres in Delhi. The party also requested that the building bye laws be amended appropriately so that there is no need to get certificates and other permissions from the architect and structural engineer for small plots.

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Delhi BJP will launch the ‘Behtar Dilli’ campaign on September 25, the birthday of Deen Dayal Upadhyay. The campaign will continue till October 2. The Delhi BJP is also determined to wrest back powers of corporations that were taken away by the Sheila Dikshit government.

“We will get back our powers over 60-foot roads and over the slum department,” Upadhyay said.

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