UDH min irked over illegal colonies, to order probe

Jaipur: Urban development and housing (UDH) minister Rajpal Singh Shekhawat announced to initiate inquiry against the Jaipur Development and Authority (JDA) officials who had allegedly promoted the development of illegal colonies in Prithvi Raj Nagar Scheme (PRN) in connivance with the private housing societies.
During his inspection, the minister witnessed many colonies were recently developed in PRN scheme even after the Rajasthan High Court ban.In October 2010, the court banned all constructions in the area till the JDA prepares a plan for its systematic development.
Infuriated minister even warned the deputy commissioner of zone 16, Hari Singh to face the Anti-Corruption Bureau inquiry. The incident occurred when he reached Tilak Vihar in zone 16 and observed plotting was done recently on vacant land after erecting the cement block walls. While, talking to TOI, Shekhawat said, "It's evident that many vacant lands are converted into new colonies. Poor residents of existing colonies are continuously waiting to procure lease deeds, however, the JDA officials are busy promoting new illegal colonies and organizing camps to regularize them. We would initiate the inquiry and take action against them." The TOI in its July 7th, 2015 report "JDA 'ignores' rules to regularize housing colony of Jaipur MP's son" had published that the JDA is regularizing residential colonies in PRN area allegedly against the norms to benefit a private housing cooperative society. Other than this, several irregularities were also surfaced in the sector plan, which is prepared to lay road network in the PRN scheme. As per the existing sector plan, several houses will be demolished to construct roads in the area. The minister at many places directed the JDA officials to change the alignment or reduce the width of the road so that minimum number of houses is affected.
Residents complain that the JDA officials have changed the alignment to save the structures of the influential people. Due to this, the minister also faced protest in many areas. In Chandra Nagar, women protesters gheraoed the minister and demanded to initiate probe against the officials. They alleged that to widen the road, the land is acquired only from one side.
Jitendra Sharma, a resident of Ridhi Sidhi Nagar, said, "Our colony has been regularized in October 2014. Still, the JDA officials have mentioned that our houses will be demolished for construction of 80 feet road. The officials have not followed the centerline and road will be widened after acquiring land on one side."