44 JJ clusters to be relocated under Rajiv Ratan Awas Yojana

Delhi Government has prepared a list of 44 JJ clusters which would be relocated during Commonwealth Games 2010 under its ambitious Rajiv Ratan Awas Yojna. The locations of the slum clusters are bound to cause political tremor as it would the voters' politics of several constituencies. In the first phase of relocation and allotment of 7,900 flats to slum-dwellers, the Delhi Government has identified 44 JJ clusters across the city which is set to change the voters' profile in several constituencies such as RK Puram, New Delhi, Timar Pur, Bawana and Civil Lines.

The list of 44 JJ clusters include Wazirpur JJ clusters, cluster at G-point Gole Market, Sanjay Gandhi at Chanakyapuri, cluster at Dhobi Ghat, DDU Marg, Arjun Das camp at Laxmi Bai Nagar, Bengali camp Kidwai Nagar, cluster near Polo Ground, Bhai Ram camp at Race Course Road, Sri Ram camp at South Campus, clusters at DPS R K Puram, Safdarjung Airport Authority, Bandhu camp Vasant Kunj, Dhobi Ghat cluster at South Avenue, clusters near NC Joshi Memorial hospital, Daya Basti, Barapullah Nallah bridge, Bharti Nagar, Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar near Badli, Anna Nagar, Wazirpur Railway track, Qutab Road, Pant Nagar, Mansarovar Park, behind Old Secretariat, Nivedita Kunj R K Puram, Kirti Nagar and New Friends Colony.

Political analysts say if these clusters are removed or relocated, the demographic profile of several Assembly constituencies would be changed. The slum dwellers are traditionally considered Congress party's voters in Delhi. In other words, the Delhi Congress leaders would have to work hard in the next Assembly polls. PWD Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan said that these 44 JJ clusters would be rehabilitated before the 2010 Commonwealth Games as flats are ready. Sources said that most of the clusters are located in New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC and Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Delhi Administration, Flood and Irrigation and Land and Development department in South Delhi and New Delhi areas.

The average size of the flats will be 25 square metres and the allottee will have to contribute Rs.60,000 which will be arranged as a soft loan. The Union Government will contribute Rs.1,19,000, the contribution of land owning agency will be around Rs.90,000 whereas the Delhi Government's contribution will be Rs.62,000.

Noting that the JJ clusters will be identified in phases as per the determined priority, the Slum and JJ Department has been made the nodal agency for relocation and rehabilitation of jhuggi-jhonpri clusters from the land belonging to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Delhi Government. Besides, the Railways, the Delhi Development Authority, the Land and Development Office and the New Delhi Municipal Council have been empowered to carry out this process themselves as per the policy of the Delhi Government.

It is noted that the cut-off date of residing in jhuggis for making a jhuggi-jhopri dweller eligible for allotment would be December 31, 1998. For availing themselves of the scheme, the applicant's name should be there in the voters' list as on the referred date and they should also posses a ration card issued on any date before the cut-off date or up to the date of survey.