40 lakh people living in Delhi's unauthorised colonies to get ownership rights

The central government has taken the decision to give ownership rights to 40 lakh people living in unauthorised colonies in Delhi, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Wednesday while briefing Cabinet policies.

"Cabinet has taken historic decision to give ownership rights to 40 lakhs people living in unauthorised colonies in Delhi," the Union Minister said.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar: Cabinet has taken historic decision to give ownership rights to 40 lakhs people living in unauthorised colonies in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/ooy8Zy4oYD

— ANI (@ANI) October 23, 2019

1797 unauthorised colonies, built before January 1, 2015, are to be regularised. Earlier, the proposal for the same was sent by the centre to the Delhi government, which completed all the necessary formalities and sent the modified proposal back to the centre which was approved. It is expected that the procedure of issuing registries will be initiated within the day, thereby accelerating the process of getting ownership rights.

Union Minister Hardeep Puri also elaborated on the policy, adding that the ownership rights will be conferred to the people regardless of it being private or government land, allowing the people to construct homes in the previously unauthorised colonies. Puri also called the step "far-sighted, progressive, and revolutionary".

Earlier, a proposal for the authorisation and regulation of these colonies was the sent to the centre by the Delhi Cabinet after passing a resolution regarding the ownership rights of the residents three years ago, on November 2, 2015.