New Delhi

Centre to notify Master Plan for Delhi-2001 changes soon

Sujay Mehdudia

Working on something that would be to the satisfaction of all: Ajay Maken

NEW DELHI: To provide relief to small traders and shopkeepers, the Union Urban Development Ministry is working on a plan to notify amendments to the Master Plan for Delhi-2001 pertaining to mixed land use and building by-laws by the end of this month or the first week of September.

"We are working on something that would be made public at an appropriate time. It would be to the satisfaction of all. There is no need for people to panic as the Supreme Court has not struck down the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006, and only stayed the May 20 notification. The July 21 notification on Tejinder Khanna Committee report is still valid and would be notified accordingly," said Union Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken on Friday.

Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy and Mr. Maken are understood to have discussed the matter in detail and it was felt that substantial relief had been given through the July 21 notification. It was felt that major portions of the notification were still valid as far as building by-laws in allowing building height up to 15 metres and ground plus three floors was concerned. "Had this July 21 notification not been in place, Delhi would have faced massive demolitions and sealing which now will be restricted to a few areas," a senior Ministry official remarked.

Highly placed sources informed that hectic activity has been going on in the Union Urban Development Ministry since Thursday evening as both Mr. Reddy and Mr. Maken were engaged in meetings with senior officials and the legal luminaries over the implications of the Supreme Court orders. "The deadline for seeking public objections for the July 21 notification ends on August 21. The authorities would then study the objections and suggestions and accordingly notify the amendments," they added.

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