Jung gives Rs 7 cr more for night shelters, allows tents under flyovers and bridges

Inside a night shelter at Sarai Kale Khan. Source: Express Photo by Praveen Khanna

Days after he allocated Rs 5 crore to the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), Lt-Governor Najeeb Jung on Monday allocated an additional Rs 7 crore to the board to provide shelter to the homeless battling the cold on the streets of Delhi that recorded a minimum temperature of 4.8 degrees on Monday.

Government officials said despite the punishing cold, some people refuse to leave the places they occupy on roads and flyovers. “Failing to persuade such people to move willingly into the night shelters provided by the government and considering the extreme cold conditions prevailing in the city, the Lt-Governor has made an exception and instructed DUSIB to set up tents under flyovers and bridges. This arrangement shall be in place till the first week of February,” Raj Niwas sources said.

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Jung also instructed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to provide space to DUSIB for setting up more night shelters. DUSIB is making arrangements for blankets and beddings for these shelters at DMRC locations. DMRC has said it would provide the ground floor of its station at Okhla to shelter the homeless. In addition, the board will also provide porta cabins.

“The Delhi government stands firm on its commitment to provide roof and bedding to all homeless persons in the city,” Jung said.