SC order a boost for Congress in poll year

Friday’s Supreme Court order has come as a shot in the arm for the Congress governments at both the Centre and the state. In an election year, the court order is expected to help the Congress.

“We are grateful to the apex court as it would open new vistas of development of the city and help accommodate the expected population of 25 million people in the year 2025,” said Minister of State for Urban Development, Ajay Maken. He was addressing media persons soon after the court order.

Maken said in plotted colonies, people can build up to four floors (basement, ground plus three floors) if they have covered 90 per cent of the plot. In case they have covered 100 per cent, they will be allowed to construct three floors plus half the fourth floor. There are around 32 lakh dwelling units in the Capital of which 15 lakh are on plotted colonies. “This would benefit all those who live in plotted colonies,” the minister added.

The sealing and demolition issue in the Capital has already assumed serious political overtones and led to the defeat of the Congress in the civic elections last year. “As Delhi goes for assembly elections in December, the order has helped stem fear among people living under the threat of demolition for the last three years,” said a senior Congress leader.