Lok Sabha passes bill protecting Delhi unauthorised constructions

The Lok Sabha Tuesday passed a bill to extend protection to unauthorized constructions in the national capital till 2017.

Passed by voice vote, the amendment to the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act, 2011, seeks to maintain the status quo with respect to encroachment or unauthorized development or construction from various dates.

Protection has also been provided against punitive action by any local authority.

The bill had been first introduced by the UPA government to ensure that no action would be taken till Dec 31, 2014 with respect to encroachment or unauthorized developments.

The current bill extends this deadline to Dec 31, 2017.

The Lok Sabha also adopted an amendment in the bill to extend the cover of no punitive action against unauthorized constructions from 2007 to June 1, 2014.

The appeal for this amendment had been made by all seven Bharatiya Janata Party MPs of the capital while participating in the debate.

"Constructions made till June, 1 2014, will be protected and legalized," Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said in his reply to the debate.

Participating in the discussion, Congress MP Deepender Hooda said the Delhi masterplan cannot be seen in isolation and should include NCR regions of Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad.

He said that a unified NCR masterplan should be made giving the NCR board the implementation powers.

Indian National Lok Dal MP Dushyant Chautala said that the Delhi masterplan should now be taken ahead and instead of horizontal growth, focus should be on vertical growth.

Naidu told the house that he will make sure that he doesn't have to come back seeking an further extension to this bill and a comprehensive masterplan of the national capital was formulated soon.