The land on which these resettlement colonies have come up is owned by the government and has been given temporarily to migrants. A “licence fee” is thus charged per month from the residents.

The MCD’s Standing Committee has also decided the ownership of properties in these colonies will be transferred to the residents. “The transfer of ownership is now in the proposal stage and needs a final approval from the MCD House,” said Vijendra Gupta, Chairman of the Standing Committee.

“The decision to abolish the licence fee for properties in resettlement colonies will benefit around 25 lakh people belonging to the economically weaker section,” Gupta added.

Gupta also announced that the civic body will reduce the tax on cattle from Rs 25 to Re 1, while the tax on pigs, donkeys and camels will be done away with entirely.

“The annual tax on cycle-rickshaws will also be reduced by 20 per cent,” said Gupta.