Apparently with an eye on Delhi Assembly polls, government today brought to Lok Sabha two bills on sparing unauthorised colonies in the capital for three more years and allowing battery-operated e-rickshaws to ply in the capital.
The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Amendment Bill 2014, introduced by Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, seeks extension of the existing Act for a period of three years from January 1, 2015.
The extension of the existing Act will save unauthorised colonies of Delhi from demolition beyond December 31, this year, when the term of the law was to expire.
Besides regularisation of unauthorised colonies, the bill seeks to regulate street vendors, regularise unauthorised colonies, village abadi areas and their extensions and existing farm houses; regularise schools, dispensaries, religious and cultural institutions, storages, warehouses and godowns built on agricultural land.
While progress has been made in evolving the policies, norms and strategies towards implementation of the Act, more time is needed to bring in orderly arrangements keeping in view the current ground realities in the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD), the bill says.
Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari introduced a bill to regularise e-rickshaws and provide for driving licences for battery-operated vehicles which had been banned by the Delhi High Court on account of safety concerns.
The Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill, 2014, was introduced amid protests from the Opposition members including Congress who objected to introduction of the legislation after mentioning it in the supplementary list of business.
They wanted time to study the legislation.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said this was the fourth time during the ongoing Winter Session that government has brought a bill by mentioning it in the supplementary list of business.
Gadkari, however, said it was an important bill concerning livelihood of thousands of people and suggested that members should speak on it at the time of its consideration.
The bill seeks to remove difficulties in granting licence to drivers of e-rickshaws and e-carts by amending Section 7(1) of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, and adding the definition of e-rickshaw and e-cart in the Act.
Delhi is expected to have Assembly polls any time in the coming months.
