Delhi CM directs not to demolish slums, says residents be provided housing in advance

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday directed the railways, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and all government departments to ensure that no slums be demolished.

She said in cases where the removal of slums becomes unavoidable due to development projects or other reasons, alternative housing must be provided in advance to the eligible slum dwellers.

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The Chief Minister further stated that approximately 50,000 houses constructed years ago in the outer areas of the city will be renovated and allocated to the eligible slum dwellers.

Gupta has also stated that, if required, the government will amend the existing policy on slum clusters and will even approach the court to protect the housing rights of JJ cluster residents.

CM emphasised that the pain of slum dwellers will not be ignored under any circumstances.

According to Gupta, the slums in Delhi are an inseparable part of the city, with residents who have been living there for decades.

She criticised the opposition for using slum dwellers as a political vote bank, asserting that her government is making sincere efforts to ensure their rightful recognition as residents of the national capital.

She added that continuous meetings are being held with various departments, and strong decisions are being taken to provide permanent settlement for the slum residents.

Gupta expressed it is a matter of satisfaction that around 50,000 flats built years ago in the outer areas of the city will now be allotted to the poor.

She informed that these dilapidated and vacant flats were earlier constructed a few years ago under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

However, expressing regret, Gupta alleged that the previous governments, despite claiming to work for the welfare of the poor and slum dwellers, never handed over these flats, rendering them uninhabitable over time.

She informed that the flats will now be given to the eligible slum dwellers under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U).

Gupta pointed that DUSIB and DSIIDC were allocated funds, yet due to alleged inaction of previous regimes, the amount was to be returned to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, but now, the centre has approved the use of these funds for the renovation of these dilapidated flats.

She alleged that the previous governments did not provide drinking water supply, nor roads or pavements were constructed near these flats, nor proper drainage and sewer systems were established.