Slum rehab: DDA jumps gun on 2nd scheme

Slum rehab: DDA jumps gun on 2nd scheme
The Times of India, December 1, 2009, Page 5

Rumu Banerjee, TNN

NEW DELHI: Barely a month after problems erupted over rehabilitation of slum-dwellers as part of the in-situ development scheme of the Delhi Development Authority, the land agency is planning to launch yet another such cluster deal. It has already identified slum clusters in Rohini, Keshopur and Ashok Nagar where it wants the next project to take off.

Interestingly, the first such project in Katputli colony near Shadipur depot in west Delhi, has been in the eye of a storm, with locals opposing the temporary relocation of slum dwellers from the colony to their area. Earlier, DDA had proposed relocating the residents of Katputli colony to Swatantra Bharat Mills, an area near the colony, but later decided to shift them to Basai Darapur. The residents of nearby colonies had objected to the move, forcing the land agency to defer the relocation barely a month after the decision was taken. The project was awarded to Raheja Builders earlier in October for a bid amount of Rs 6.11 crore.

However, its experiences with the Katputli colony project doesn't seem to have fazed the land agency. DDA is now proposing to go ahead with its next group of slum clusters. Sources said either of the clusters identified Keshopur, Rohini or Ashok Nagar, would be set up for in-situ development "soon''. Said a senior DDA official, "Though the first project took some time to take off, we are hoping that finding bidders for the second one will not take time.''

The site includes Keshopur, where 500-odd units are set to come up. Followed by Block E and F, Sector 18, Rohini. Here, over 1,200 dwelling units will be built. In the last site, sources say the DDA may not relocate residents during construction. There is a vacant DDA land next to the slum cluster, and the towers would be constructed on this land, the official said. The fourth colony is proposed in Jailorwala Bagh, near Ashok Vihar in northwest Delhi.

Under the in-situ development project, DDA hopes to rehabilitate 50,000 slum units at 21 sites all over the city. In the scheme, the successful bidder and builder would be allowed to dispose off a percentage of the building area for commercial purposes for remuneration. Fifty per cent of the site is to be used to rehabilitate the slum dwellers.