Chief minister Rekha Gupta announced on Monday that her govt has allocated Rs 700 crore in the budget for the development of slum settlements.
“Whenever slums need to be removed for any reason, arrangements are being made to provide houses to the eligible residents so that they can be true citizens of the national capital,” she said.
Gupta said that slum dwellers should not be misled by AAP, as during that party’s rule they merely saw slum residents as vote banks and encouraged the supply of alcohol to these areas. “Now that the current govt is working on development schemes for the slum communities, these functionaries are trying to incite unrest and mislead the residents,” she said.
The chief minister said this while visiting a slum camp — Faatak Wali Jhuggi — near the railway crossing in Shalimar Bagh on Sunday morning. The railways have issued a notice for the removal of this slum settlement, as it is on railway land. The railways are expanding the Azadpur railway station.
Gupta said that a survey of this slum area was conducted in 2020, but the then Aam Aadmi Party govt neither took any decisions, nor held talks with the railways. “But we have now begun working on a plan for you, so that you do not face any hardship,” she said.
“When a crisis came upon you, I came to meet you because Delhi govt is not in favour of removing slums without a reason,” the chief minister said. She added that if slums have to be removed for the sake of development projects or any other legitimate reasons, govt will ensure rehabilitation for the eligible residents so that they too can become a part of Delhi’s growth story.
She said that she would speak to the ministry of railways and make arrangements for housing for the residents of this area. “You will get complete justice. Delhi govt is fully committed to this,” she said, adding that there was no need to panic.
The chief minister also criticised the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party govts, stating that in the past 40 years, no development has taken place in Delhi’s slums. “These parties have only seen slum dwellers as voters and have constantly tried to exploit them,” she said.
Gupta also said that the AAP functionaries were making baseless allegations that Delhi govt is focused on removing slum dwellers. “But let me tell them that govt has allocated a budget of Rs 700 crore for the development of slum settlements,” she said.
The objective is clear: our govt is consistently working towards the development of slum settlements. Roads, lanes and pavements are being constructed in these areas. Arrangement for clean drinking water is being made. Toilets and bathing facilities are being set up for women, she said.
Gupta said that AAP was trying to intimidate slum dwellers. However, during their tenure, these functionaries attempted to turn slum residents into alcoholics and made no plans for their development, “whereas we are carrying out genuine and meaningful development”, she said.
