A multi-crore scam reported by SC Monitoring Committee in Delhi

What is the issue?

• A Supreme Court (SC) Monitoring Committee said that a land distribution scheme of 1975 has turned into a multi-crore scam.
• This is said at the same time when the Delhi government and the Centre are pushing to regularise over 1,797 unauthorised colonies in Delhi.

What was the scheme?

• This scheme was part of Indira Gandhi’s 20-Point Programme (TPP) launched in 1975. The Programme is now called TPP-2006.
• Under the scheme, the plots were allotted to the poor in two batches (1981-1985 and 1985-89) and were meant for residential use only.

Why the Monitoring Committee was set up?

• It was set up on March 24, 2006 by the Supreme Court.
• It was set up to oversee the implementation of the Law, namely sealing of offending premises in terms of the letter and spirit of the court’s directions.

What are the observations of the Committee?

• It reported to the Supreme Court (SC) on August 8, 2019.
• Field visit- Area behind sector 7 of Dwarka sub city in the Najafgarh Zone, in October 2018.
• Observations - Major unauthorised constructions like huge showrooms, restaurants, gyms, etc. were found in the area.
• These commercial activities were being carried out in/on small plots amalgamated, though allotted for weaker sections under TPP.

What was the Supreme Court order and afterwards?

• This SC order was a response to the December 2018 report submitted by the Committee to the SC.
• On January 14, 2019 - The SC said that the SDMC should explain why they haven’t taken any action under the provisions of DMC (Delhi Municipal Corporation) Act for unauthorised constructions.
• The Committee’s latest report said that no follow-up action had been taken as per the SC’s order.
• On July 1, 2019 - The Committee asked for details of houses sites and plots allotted under the TPP.
• On August 3, 2019 - It received the lists of original allottees from the Revenue department.
• But the Committee’s recent report noted that there was still no clarity about the large-scale commercialisation, transfer of ownership, amalgamation of plots and the obvious dubious deals.

What happens next?

• The Committee acknowledged that the efforts to identify the rightful allottees and the defaulters had reached a dead end.
• It urged the SC to issue orders to the Revenue department and other local bodies to carry out a detailed survey of all the plots and properties that come under the ambit of TPP.
• Further action will be taken by the Committee after it receives relevant information from the concerned authorities.

What is the reason behind regularising the unauthorised colonies/plots?

• Unauthorised colonies are a result of unplanned growth, but since they are often densely populated and offer large vote banks, politicians are inclined to get them “regularised”.
• In other words, they are approved, and residing in them becomes legal, so that infrastructure related to water supply, drainage, roads, educational institutions etc. can be set up.

Source: The Indian Express