New Delhi: The Delhi government has released Rs 500 crore for development works in unauthorised colonies, according to an official statement issued on Friday. The move came a day after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that residents of unauthorised colonies will soon have ownership rights of their houses and claimed that the Centre has agreed to the AAP governments proposal in this regard. In a statement, the government said the urban development department has released Rs 500 crore to the irrigation and flood control department following a direction of the chief minister. "The chief minister directed the Urban Development Department to ensure that there is no financial constraint for the development work of unauthorised colonies and funds must be released on time," it said. The government said the work of providing basic developmental facilities –sewers, drains, roads and lanes –is being carried out on a "war footing" in unauthorised colonies, adding that water distribution lines are being laid by the Delhi Jal Board. It also alleged that BJP-led Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCDs) still do not allow their councillors to spend funds in unauthorised colonies. Residents of these colonies play a vital role in deciding the electoral fate of any political party. "The total budget allocation for the development works in unauthorised colonies in the current financial year is Rs 1,500 crore. Out of the total budget, Rs 700 crore have now been released to Irrigation & Flood Control Department for the development works to be carried out," the government stated. Before 2015, neither MCD Councillors nor MLALAD funds could be spent on the development works in unauthorised colonies. Kejriwal government amended the MLALAD guidelines to allow the elected representatives to spend their MLALAD for providing basic facilities in these colonies. However, MCDs still do not allow their Councillors to spend funds in unauthorized colonies. The CM announced that the residents of the unauthorised colonies will get the ownership rights of their properties soon. The Delhi cabinets proposal to regularize colonies was sent to the Centre in November 2015. The Delhi cabinet had cleared the proposal to regularise 1,797 colonies on November 2, 2015 and sent it to the Centre on November 12. The Centre has now sent a communication to the Delhi government stating its in-principle approval for regularisation of 1,797 unauthorised colonies. The Chief Minister also informed on Thursday that he has directed officers to prepare for large scale registry of homes in the unauthorised colonies. Delhi government has spent/allocated the highest ever amount of money for providing basic amenities in unauthorised colonies.

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