Foundation stone laid for Kathaputli colony redevelopment

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said today that the Kathpulti Colony residents hold an important position in India's culture and history and assured them that they would have proper houses by the beginning of next year.

The housing and urban affairs minister said the redevelopment model has to keep pace with the movement of people from rural to urban areas.

"By 2030, 600 million (60 crore) Indians would be living in urban spaces. The redevelopment of cities has to be done keeping in mind this fact," Puri said at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of an in-situ development project at Kathputli Colony.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal was also present at the event, where the residents of the colony, dressed in different costumes, thanked the minister and DDA officials for the project.

Spread over an area of around 14 acres, Kathputli Colony was home to a large number of puppeteers, magicians, singers and musicians and is currently being redeveloped.

It was in the news recently after the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) began its demolition drive there, triggering clashes among its residents, activists and the police.

"Sealing committee and many others, who work in air-conditioned offices and do not know the ground realities, don't understand that people from rural areas are coming to urban spaces for better opportunities," Puri said.

The minister added that this redevelopment project, which was conceived in 2009, would provide clean, well-planned and habitable units, along with adequate social infrastructure to the people