JOIN USDearth of land is the biggest hurdle in relocating slum dwellers in the city, said the newly appointed Delhi Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain on Friday.
He added that the city government has been working for the regularisation of unauthorised colonies on a priority basis. Former UD Minister Manish Sisodia was relieved of the charge of the portfolio on Thursday.
“We wrote to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) asking it to give us land on the same rate as it gives to private builders. We will be better than the private builder. But the DDA is willing to give land to private builder,” Jain added.
“We have even said that if you (DDA) are getting Rs 1 crore from private builder, you can take Rs 2 crore from the Delhi government but give us the land,” the minister said.
The minister also said that development work has been going on in unauthorised colonies.
“We have been constructing roads, drains and providing other civic amenities in unauthorised colonies,” he added.
Jain, who holds portfolios like Home, Health, Transport, Public Works Department (PWD) and Industries, was allocated Urban Development as well on Thursday.
When suggested that he seemed to be the most trusted minister in the AAP government, Jain said, “Since I have Industries portfolio, the government though it would be better if unauthorised colonies also come under my charge and this is possible only if I take the charge of the Urban Development department portfolio.”
“Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodioa floated the idea,” Jain added. Sources in the Delhi government said that the decision has been taken to give more time to Sisodia to take up administrative work in the absence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal will be devoting most of his time for campaigning in Punjab, Gujarat and Goa for upcoming elections.