Order to regularise 1,200 plus colonies in Delhi any day: Venkaiah Naidu

In a good news for lakhs of dwellers in unauthorised colonies of poll-bound Delhi, government on Tuesday said a move to regularise over 1,200 such habitations is at an advanced stage and an order will come "any day".

Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu also said the government was in the final stage of preparing a National Housing Plan, under which topmost priority will be given to slum rehabilitation programme. Stressing that providing housing to all was priority, he said in Rajya Sabha that, "The Government is considering actively... We are in a very advanced stage of regularising the unauthorised colonies in Delhi, which are in large number, 1,200 plus."

He said people living in these areas have been getting electricity, water and other things, but on record, they are unauthorised. "They cannot transfer their properties also. Keeping in mind this difficulty, the government is working on it, and we are in an advanced stage and any day, that sort of an order will be issued. I hope that everybody will support this," he said.

He was replying to a brief debate on the National Capital of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Amendment Bill 2014, which will give protection from demolition to unauthorised colonies for three years beyond January one next year. Pointing out that housing was a massive challenge before the country, Naidu said Centre has studied housing schemes of Maharashtra and Gujarat.

"...we are in the final stage of finalising the National Housing Plan, where the top most priority will be given to the Slum Rehabilitation Programme. That is the priority," he said. He also said government will keep in mind all suggestions and experience of various cities while formulating the plan for 'Housing for All'.