Vested interest of a few obstructing Kathputli Colony relocation drive: DDA

Families from Kathputli Colony in west Delhi are being shifted as per the plan and the obstruction to the ongoing relocation drive is being created only by a few people and NGOs with “vested interest”, a senior DDA official said on Monday.

“We are trying to give the residents of Kathputli Colony a decent living. And, our plan is in conformity with the Prime Minister Awas Yojana and DUSIB schemes,” the official claimed.

A section of residents of the colony and a few NGOs had earlier claimed the people were being “forced” by authorities into giving demolition clearance.

“Families are being shifted as per the plan and the obstruction to the shifting is being created only by a few people and NGOs with vested interest,” the official said.

“The drive started on December 19. And, would be conducted until we shift all families,” he added.

As per the plan, the residents of the colony are to be shifted to a transit camp in Anand Parbat, for in-situ development work.

“The original cut off is 2011, and all residents who have been living there before that period would be rehabilitated as per the scheme. Also, we will consider the request of those residents who began living there after 2011, to be included either in this or subsequent schemes,” he added.

As per the rehabilitation plan, multi-storeyed apartments would be built at the colony, and each unit would have two rooms, a kitchen, and a toilet.

“About 2,800 families are to be shifted to the camp, out of which 526 have been relocated. 400 families were shifted earlier,” he said.

The over 40-year-old colony is home to street performers, acrobats, snake-charmers, magicians, among others.