Politics · India Bureau
Delhi likely to extend law shielding illegal constructions again
The Delhi government is poised to grant another extension to a special provisions law that protects unauthorised buildings from demolition. The move comes as a flagship regularisation scheme continues to attract minimal interest from residents of the capital's 1,511 unauthorised colonies.
LSN India ·
Delhi is expected to extend the validity of a special law that has shielded illegal constructions from enforcement action, marking yet another postponement of stricter implementation. The provision, which has been extended multiple times since its inception, continues to defer action against unauthorised buildings across the city.
The anticipated extension reflects ongoing challenges in addressing Delhi's sprawling unauthorised colonies, where residents have historically resisted demolition orders and demanded alternative solutions. Rather than demolition, the government has pursued a regularisation approach for these settlements.
However, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PM-JAY) scheme launched to formalise properties in these unauthorised areas has generated underwhelming response from residents. The scheme, intended to provide legal status to properties in 1,511 unauthorised colonies across Delhi, has struggled to gain traction since its launch.
The sluggish uptake under PM-JAY reflects residents' concerns over implementation procedures, costs, and uncertainties regarding long-term tenure security. Officials acknowledge that sustained awareness campaigns and procedural simplification are needed to encourage greater participation in the regularisation initiative.
The recurring extensions of the special provisions law underscore the complexity of addressing Delhi's unauthorised construction problem, balancing enforcement priorities with the need for pragmatic solutions that account for the large population residing in these settlements.