NGT raps Delhi govt for not using funds for slum removal

The National Green Tribunal today rapped Delhi government over alleged non-utilisation of Rs 11.25 crores given to it by Railways way back in 2003-2004 for rehabilitation of slum clusters along rail tracks here by allotting flats to the inhabitants and remove encroachments.
"What did you (Delhi govt) do in all these years? After 2003 you did nothing. You received the money from everybody and kept it with you for a good number of years," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The observation came after Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) sought to put the onus on the transport behemoth, telling the bench that Railways had given Rs 11.25 crore to it for relocation of jhuggis in 2003- 2004 and, as per the 2015 Delhi Slum and JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation policy, it was the land owning agency (railways) that was responsible for rehabilitation of slums.

But Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand and advocate Om Prakash, appearing for Railways, said that rehabilitation was a state subject and money has been lying with DUSIB but they have not utilised it till date.
After receipt of money, 257 jhuggi jhopri (JJ) dwellers were rehabilitated by the Slum and JJ Department by spending Rs 52 lakh, DUSIB said, adding at that time, the Slum Relocation Policy provided for allotment of 18 sq metres plots to the eligible jhuggi dwellers.
"However, near about 7,750 plots of slum and JJ Department were given to DDA on loan basis for relocation of JJ cluster at Yamuna Pushta. These plots were supposed to come back to the slum & JJ Department. However, DDA has not returned the same.

"In the meanwhile, a new Master Plan was introduced in 2007. The Master Plan envisaged allotment of flats instead of plots to relocated JJ dwellers. The DUSIB Act came into force in the year 2010," it said.

"Flats at Baprola, near Delhi-Haryana border, have been
constructed under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The cost of each flat is Rs 22,03,000. The Government of India has contributed an amount of Rs 82,00,000 for each flat under JNNURM.
"Thus the net cost of each flat is Rs 21,20,400. In terms of the scheme, the contribution of the JJ dweller for a flat has to be Rs 1,12,000 and the land owning agency which in this case is Railways has to pay Rs 20,08,400 per flat," DUSIB said.

It said it was willing to pay interest at the rate of 7 per cent per annum which comes to over Rs 9.51 crore. Thus the total amount is about Rs 20.25 crore against which 101 flats can be allotted at present.
"The basti at Azadpur and Lawrence Road is comprising 389 jhuggis. Assuming that 389 flats are to be allotted, the total cost thereof would be Rs 85,69,67,00 of which the share of Railways would be Rs 78,12,67,600. After adjusting the amount of Rs 20,25,15,807 already in the hand of DUSIB, a further amount of Rs 57,87,51,793 is to be paid by the Railways.

"For the removal of the JJ Basti in totality, it is necessary that the balance amount is also deposited by the Railways with DUSIB within a period of two months. However, DUSIB undertakes to commence the task of determination of eligibility and resettlement the moment in principle approval to the above is conveyed by the Railways," it said.
Under attack from the tribunal for failure to keep the tracks clean, the Railways have sought to shift the blame on Delhi government for not relocating slum clusters from its land by allotting them flats, despite directions of the green panel.
Alleging non-cooperation by the Delhi government and DUSIB, the PSU behemoth had said the "only permanent" solution for maintaining sustained cleanliness on tracks is their rehabilitation.