Residents of 1,520 unauthorised colonies in Delhi have a point to rejoice as they are likely to be authorized very soon by issue of a notification of the Union ministry of urban development.
While chairing the first meeting of the Board for Development of Unauthorized Colonies, Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit made it clear that her government would definitely find ways and means to expedite developmental works and remove bottlenecks.
It may be recalled that the government has constituted a special fund for development of unauthorized colonies with an outlay Rs 2,800 crore in the 11th Five Year Plan 2007-2012 to meet expenditure on provision of water supply, sewerage, roads, drains, sanitation, community and miscellaneous services.
Urban Development minister A. K. Walia informed that an amount of Rs 310 crore has been spent on developmental works in these 525 colonies till March 2007. Another Rs 75 crore has been released for this year. A joint study conducted by DSIIDC and MCD has recommended certain developmental works for which Rs 73 crore and Rs 75 crore is being released to these agencies respectively.
He added that an outlay of Rs 666 crore has been earmarked for this year out of which Rs 125 crore for sanitation, Rs 50 crore for water supply and Rs 147 crore for sewerage.