Govt bonanza for slums: EWS flats for 1,300 families

New Delhi: The Delhi government is all set to roll out its action plan to rid the city of its slums by 2015. Keeping in sync with this plan around 1,300 families across 14 slums have been found eligible for allotment of flats in the first phase by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB).
The board plans to begin the relocation process later this month. The families will be allotted flats in areas like Narela and Bawana. It is proposed to take up two clusters to begin with and complete the removal and relocation process of these clusters over the next few months.
In all 53 clusters were identified for relocation in the first phase. Six of these clusters were removed around the Commonwealth Games and of these just 87 eligible families were relocated in Bawana.Now 14 clusters in areas like Bharti Nagar near Khan Market,Taimoor Nagar near Friends Colony and clusters in Wazirpur and Badli are on the radar for relocation.According to senior officials most of these clusters are small in size.
Officials point that in the last few months notices had been put up in target areas asking people who may have failed to apply for a flat earlier to come forward so that they could avail of the benefit if they are eligible. However, they admit that just about 40% to 50% of the residents have been found eligible for a flat.
Before the relocation begins eligible candidates will be given their lease letters and allowed about one weeks time to shift to their flats prior to removal exercise.
This will also be the time for the ineligible to move out and fend for themselves. So the months ahead are likely to see many more join the homeless on the streets or add to the congestion of other slums.
The allotment process was initially slated to begin in January. With many not meeting the eligibility criteria for allotment of EWS flats, the state government decided to steer clear of relocation of slums shortlisted for the first phase till the municipal polls. The CMs office had issued a statement in December last year that DUSIB will start allotting flats to JJ dwellers in January.   Source>>>