Delhi JJ clusters to be redeveloped in next 5 yrs

All 685 JJ clusters of Delhi will be taken up for redevelopment in the next five years in a bid to improve the living conditions of people in such areas.
Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, who discussed the issue with officials concerned today, said Delhi needs to be made slum-free to enable seamless urban development.
On complaints of mafia elements coming in the way of slum redevelopment, he said such elements shall be weeded out with an iron hand.
During the meeting, it was brought to the notice of Naidu that earlier attempts for redevelopment of JJ clusters could not progress due to lack of guidelines besides vested interests seeking to subvert such attempts.

It was decided that necessary guidelines would be evolved in the next week jointly by the central and Delhi governments and redevelopment of JJ clusters of Delhi could be considered based on the models followed in Gujarat, Mumbai and Chennai as appropriate.
According to the decision, cut-off date of June 1, 2014 will be considered for identifying the beneficiaries in JJ clusters, said a release.

Out of the total Delhi population of 1.64 crore as per 2011 Census, 18 lakhs live in slums. Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has identified 685 JJ clusters with 3.50 lakh households occupying 800 hectares of land.

According to Delhi government's policy, DUSIB seeks to enhance population density of 900 people per hectare which would entail construction of about 3 lakh houses in 320 hectares of available land.
Besides about 55,000 houses are at various stages of construction taken up under JNNURM.