Modi Government To Give Ownership Rights To 40 Lakh People Living In Unauthorised Delhi Colonies

In a move that will benefit 40 lakh people, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to grant ownership rights to people living in unauthorised colonies in Delhi, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said.

The proposal is based on the recommendations of a committee, he said. Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the Centre would also bring a bill in the Winter Session of Parliament to give relief to the residents of the unauthorised colonies in the national capital.   

The move comes ahead of the Assembly polls in the national capital, scheduled for early next year.  The decision “is applicable to 1,797 identified unauthorised colonies” spread over 175 square km inhabited by people from lower income groups, he said.

It does not apply to 69 affluent colonies identified by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) including Sainik Farms, Mahendru Enclave and Anantram Dairy, Puri added. In July, the Delhi government proposed a set of parameters to regularise the 1,797 colonies, which include charging one per cent cost of circle rate of land for up to 200 square metre plot from occupants besides a nominal penalty.

The government also decided to merge loss-making telecom firms MTNL and BSNL as part of a revival package that includes raising sovereign bonds, monetising assets and voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for employees.

Briefing reporters on decisions taken by the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government will put in Rs 29,937 crore for revival of the two state-owned telecom companies.

The revival package includes raising of Rs 15,000 crore sovereign bonds and monetising Rs 38,000 crore of assets in next four years.

Also, voluntary retirement will be offered to employees to cut cost, he said. He said BSNL and MTNL will be merged. Pending this, MTNL will act as a subsidiary of BSNL.

Here are the highlights of the press conference: 

16.26 pm: "Government committed to look into the issues of the poor": Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

16.24 pm: New players will be allowed to set up diesel, petrol outlets: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.

16.22 pm: Cabinet has approved revision in fuel retail policy: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.

16.21 pm: Government has offered a very generous financial assistance to revival BSNL and MTNL. Now I would like to urge the employees of both these PSUs to work hard and help Govt in making these organizations profitable: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

16.20 pm: In a move to increase farmers' income, Cabinet decides to hike MSP for Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2020-21

16.18 pm: 'Minimum Support Price for rabi crops to be increased', as announced in the Union Cabinet briefing.

16.16 pm: Cabinet has decided to raise a sovereign bond of Rs. 15,000 for revival of BSNL and MTNL.

16.14 pm: Cabinet has decided to merge BSNL & MTNL, will raise a sovereign bond of Rs 15,000 for revival of BSNL & MTNL. Assets of both worth Rs 38,000 will be monetized. VRS package for the employees. Govt will provide 4G spectrum on administrative allocation basis.

16.12 pm: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad: Neither MTNL or BSNL are being closed, nor being disinvested, nor is being hired to any third party.

16.10 pm: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar: Cabinet has taken historic decision to give ownership rights to 40 lakhs people living in unauthorised colonies in Delhi.