Date:27/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/27/stories/2006122726310300.htm

New Delhi

Vardhan criticises Delhi Govt.

Staff Reporter

For giving hollow assurances to traders about sealing `The Master Plan does not mention a word about relief'

NEW DELHI: Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday said the Congress was only giving hollow assurances to traders about relief from sealing and demolition as the proposed Master Plan for Delhi-2021 does not mention a word about relief.

Addressing media persons here, Dr. Vardhan said this (no mention of relief in the MPD-2021) meant that sealing and demolition would continue even in the next year. Questioning the practicability of MPD-2021, Dr. Vardhan said it should have brought relief to the traders who have been denied the same for the past six years.

Accusing the Delhi Government of handing over the construction work on valuable land, residential areas and also the commercial areas to the builder lobby, Dr. Vardhan lamented that the dream of a common man to have a house in the city would remain a dream only. He added that the land mafia would be able to purchase the land, which has been cleared after demolition, and sell it at a price of their own liking.

Dr. Vardhan further alleged that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has been reduced to a "consultant" in the MPD-2021 and ultimately it would become a white elephant. Pointing out that the fee for land use change was exorbitant, Dr. Vardhan said people would like to remain unemployed or close their establishments rather than pay fee of Rs.2.1 lakhs for 1,000 square feet for `A' and `B' categories, Rs.1.5 lakhs `C' and `D' categories and Rs.53,000 for `F' and `G' categories