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Today, after choosing Kohinoor Apartments in Kalkaji Extension over a pad at upmarket Greater Kailash-I or Greater Kailash-II in hope of raising a family in a “decent neighbourhood”, Mehta is one among 20,000 residents fighting a legal battle in Delhi High Court to regain “one of the oldest South Delhi colonies”.
Their fight is against 10,000-odd slums encroaching the colony.
When he and others like him bought the flats in Kalkaji Extension, Mehta says, DDA had assured it was to become “another decent colony like neighbouring colonies such as Alaknanda, Kailash Colony, GK-I and GK-II. Many of us let go of the opportunity to buy plots in other south Delhi colonies and settled for Kalkaji Extension. But today, one of the largest south Delhi colonies is in shambles.”
Frustrated, the residents moved the HC in 2005.
Passing the buck?
Even as the residents blame the (DDA) for “misguiding” them in 1980 at the time of plot allotment, the land agency in a report filed in 2007 throws up its hands in helplessness when it comes to removing the slum dwellers. Reason: lack of alternative space to relocate them.
“The number of encroachments is 8,609,” the report says. “The DDA does not have 8,000 plots to relocate the jhuggi-jhopri dwellers.”
The DDA also seeks “two-three years more” to figure out its alternative space-saving plan of accommodating slum dwellers in “multi-storied apartments”.
The documents also refer to the Centre’s responsibility to ink “policy guidelines” on the fate of slum dwellers as per 2006 Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act.
The report has not appeased the residents who submitted in court that “rampant anarchy” is exists in the area, thanks to the slum dwellers. “Open defecation, throwing of garbage, loudspeakers playing at high volume are some of our lesser troubles,” the residents’ petition says. “Residential pockets get water supply for only 15-20 minutes in 24 hours as against a four-hour supply.
“We pay heavy house tax under category D. Local and civic authorities must discharge their statutory duties.”
Flashback: Court orders
In 1995, the High Court had ordered the removal of unauthorised constructions at the community park in Pocket A-4, Konark Apartments. Moveable toilets were also removed. The residents quote that the Supreme Court had, from 1996 to 2000, specifically dealt with the issue of unauthorised constructions in Delhi.
“No other colony of south Delhi has so many clusters at one place as in Kalkaji Extension,” the petition states, even as the DDA report cites the relevant provisions of the 2006 Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act.
As complaints flow in, a Bench led by Chief Justice M K Sharma today gave DDA eight weeks to clear “identified” encroachments in the residential area.
As for Mehta, he has to take the same route past GK-II on his way back home.
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