Work at Delhi

Apr 25,2018

Work at Delhi"s Kathputli Colony begins

5.22 hectares of the slum was selected for Capital's first in-situ redevelopment project in 2009

The Union Minister of State Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri and Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal laid the foundation stone of an in-situ (in the same spot) development project at Kathputli Colony on Tuesday. The slum was selected for Delhi's first in-situ redevelopment project and an agreement was signed to this effect in 2009 for development of 5.22 hectares of the colony.

The housing and urban affairs minister said that the redevelopment model has to keep pace with the movement of people from rural to urban areas. "By 2030, 600 million (60 crores) Indians would be living in urban spaces. The redevelopment of cities has to be done keeping in mind this fact," Puri said.
The colony is one of the biggest and oldest slums located in Shadipur Depot, housing puppeteers, acrobats, storytellers, folk dancers and painters, who had been under threat of losing their art and livelihoods as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had proposed to rehabilitate them by relocating the residents temporarily to the place is redeveloped. The colony is the only such place that is a home to street performers from 14 states including Gujarat, Maharastra, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh belonging to diverse communities such as Adivasis, Muslims, Yadavs, Balmikis, Kushths, Nats and Bagris, among others.

However, residents claimed that even before making arrangements, the DDA has compelled 2,800 families to move to the transit camp at Anand Parbat. On October 30, 2017, the DDA demolished over 400 jhuggis in the slum amid protests and stone-pelting from the residents. "Sealing committee and many others, who work in air-conditioned offices don't understand that people from rural areas are coming to urban spaces for better opportunities," Puri said.

THE AGREEMENT
According to the agreement with the private partner in this project, the developer has to construct 2,800 houses for the economically weaker sections (EWS). Each unit has to be of 30.5 square metres. The contractor needs to provide interim transit camps with 2,800 porta-cabin dwelling units and other amenities/facilities for the slum dwellers.