Rehabilitation:Kathputli colony residents protest outside Raj

The residents of Kathputli colony today protested outside Raj Niwas, few of whom later vented their ire to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung accusing the DDA of going back on its words of 'in situ' rehabilitation.
Around 1,500 people from the colony, a habitat of hundreds of artistes including puppeteers, folk singers and magicians, marched to the LG's residence in the morning. A fifteen-member delegation later met Jung.
"Jung has assured us of action within two days," said one of the representatives after meeting LG.
"Over two years ago, we were evicted from our houses in the colony by DDA with a promise that we would be provided new flats within two years, but we have got nothing," said 40-year-old Mohammad Imtiaz, a resident of the colony.

Residents of the colony were made to shift to a transit camp in Anand Parbat over two years ago by the DDA (Delhi Development Authority) in order to "redevelop" it.
"We have not been provided the flats as promised by DDA. But after LG's assurance we will wait for two more days and see what happens," Imtiaz added.

In fact, the DDA website still reads that the relocation shall be "only for 2-3 years" by which time the buildings shall be ready.
The Aam Aadmi Party later issued a statement supporting the demand of the residents of the colony, the first slum in the city which was taken up for in-situ development through a PPP (Public-private partnership) model in 2009.

The party alleged that the BJP-led Centre was shielding a massive scam "committed by UPA dispensation" in evicting the slum dwellers and going back on the promise of rehabilitating them.