Kejriwal urged Railways Minister to look into JJ issue in Dec 1 letter

New Delhi: Days before a fresh confrontation erupted between Delhi and the Centre over the death of a baby during an anti-encroachment drive by railways, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had written to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu urging him to look into the issue of rehabilitation of JJ dwellers staying along the rail track on "priority" basis.

In his letter to Prabhu dated December 1, Kejriwal assured that the Delhi Government will extend "full" co-operation for providing flats constructed under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for relocation of JJ dwellers.

"I would like to impress upon you to get the matter regarding rehabilitation of JJ dwellers squatting in the safety zone (15 metres on either sides of rail track) examined on priority.

"Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) will extend full co-operation for providing flats constructed under JNNURM for relocation of these dwellers," Kejriwal wrote.

In the letter, the Delhi Chief Minister also drew Prabhu's attention towards an old communique between the two regarding new Delhi Slum Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015, which is currently under Union Ministry of Urban Development's examination.

Kejriwal mentioned in the letter the issue of shifting six JJ clusters falling in the safety zone, which the Chief Minister said, is pending before Green Tribunal.

"The Tribunal had sought appearances of DUSIB on October 7, 2015 (in the matter). Principal Secretary (Urban Development), Government of NCT of Delhi had convened two meetings on this issue on October 13 and November 9, 2015 to sort out the matter but it seems there are certain issues still to be decided at the Railway Board/Ministry level," Kejriwal said in the letter. 

He further said Railways had deposited Rs 11.25 crore in the year 2003-04 for relocation of approximately 4,410 JJ dwellers but only 257 JJ dwellers could be rehabilitated as due to another court matter, the Slum and JJ Wing of MCD (now DUSIB) had to transfer approximately 8,000 developed plots for JJ dwellers to DDA on priority basis.

"Now, DUSIB can adjust the amount already deposited by the Railways along with interest but rehabilitation can only be done as per the new/extant rehabilitation policy and at the cost of rehabilitation as per the policy," the CM said.

A fresh confrontation has erupted between Delhi government and Centre following death of a six-month-old baby in Shakur Basti area of West Delhi where the railways had undertaken a drive to remove encroachments yesterday.

This had evoked angry protests from Kejriwal who wanted murder case to be registered.