Bill to protect illegal colonies, slums cleared

New Delhi: Parliament on Thursday passed a bill to protect slums and unauthorised colonies in the national capital region from punitive action till a framework for orderly arrangements are in place.

The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, which gives immunity to slums and some unauthorised constructions till December 31, 2020, was cleared by the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. It was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The immunity under the existing Bill ends on December 31.

While replying to a debate on the measure, Urban development minister Hardeep Singh Puri said if the Bill is not passed, it will lead to “unprecedented chaos” in the national capital which has witnessed an influx of over 6 lakh people per annum.

The legislation will give cover against punitive action on “as is where is basis” until December 2020, the Union minister said, adding that there were seven categories of unauthorised colonies and each of them had separate cut-off points and dates.

“I don’t have any answer as to why nothing was done between 2008 and 2014, but post-2014 an attempt to fast-track things has been made,” he said, adding that a Supreme Court-appointed committee was looking into the matter.