President gives assent to demolition bill

NEW DELHI: President A P J Abdul Kalam on Saturday gave his nod to the bill seeking a one-year moratorium on the demolition and sealing drives in Delhi.

A Rashtrapati Bhawan spokesman said the President has given his assent to the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Bill-2006.

The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on May 15 after it was approved by the Lok Sabha on May 12.

Providing relief to Delhiites from the court-ordered demolition and sealing drives, the bill proposes a one-year moratorium on punitive action against unauthorised constructions in the national capital.

The bill provides for status quo as on January 1, 2006 of unauthorised development in respect of mixed land use, construction beyond sanctioned plans and encroachments by slum-dwellers, hawkers and street vendors in the capital.

The Centre intends to use the one-year moratorium period to set the system right in Delhi and look at the problems from a new perspective.

The bill came after stepped up demands by affected persons and political parties to halt demolitions and sealing of commercial establishments in Delhi.