Centre wants Delhi to re-look at regularising colonies

The Centre has asked the Delhi government to have a fresh look at regularising the unauthorised colonies, questioning the decision of the previous government led by Sheila Dikshit to regularise 895 such settlements in the capital.

Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu Tuesday asked the government officials to work on the details within 15 days following which the ministry will prepare an action plan.

"The minister told Delhi government officials that to enable meaningful urban development, there is a case for having a fresh look at regularisation of all unauthorised colonies in Delhi," said an official in the ministry.

"He has asked them to prepare a paper within 15 days after which the Delhi government in consultation with union urban development ministry would prepare an action plan," the official added.

Recently, the Comptroller and Auditor General had pointed out irregularities in the process adopted by the Sheila Dikshit-led government in regularising the colonies.

Under the chief ministership of Congress leader Sheila Dikshit, the Delhi government in 2012 regularised 895 unauthorised colonies in the capital.

The auditor also questioned the Dikshit government's decision of giving provisional certificates to these unauthorised settlements. "Issue of provisional regularisation certificates was not envisaged in the guidelines," it said.

The CAG also pointed out "several discrepancies" in determining the outer boundaries of these colonies.