Columnists
Keeping the plan
The top court is right to disallow changes to the Delhi Masterplan as demanded by traders
The Supreme Court’s action to stay the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) from arbitrarily changing aspects of the Delhi Masterplan 2021, that will guide the development of the city in future decades to come, is a well measured decision. The DDA had decided to change the masterplan under pressure from Delhi’s trading community — these traders have been protesting ever since a Supreme Court monitored body had been instructing the municipal bodies in the Capital to seal illegal shops, restaurants and godowns in markets across the city. The Capital of India, like many other cities, has seen haphazard planning with commercial, residential and industrial areas often abutting each other, thanks to the lack of zoming laws. But the sealings that have been taking place is due to the abuse of zoning laws, commercial zones in residential areas or small local shopping centres becoming multi-storey shopping complexes full of razzmatazz, almost certainly in violation of the laws. Though in some cases, traders have been given opportunities to legalise their extensions, but usually, often by greasing the palms of the authorities, business carried on as usual.
The Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority, which reports directly to the Supreme Court, has been trying to get Delhi’s development back onto track. The zero tolerance approach by the authorities have raised the trading community’s heckles. And political parties have been quick to blame each other for the sealings, particularly the Delhi Government run by the Aam Aadmi Party and Delhi’s three zonal municipalities run by the Bharatiya Janata Party and each have said that they will attempt to stop the sealings. Both proposed to do that through amendments to the ‘Masterplan-2021’, but they ignored another community, that of residents who are frustrated by the rampant commercialisation of their localities. The Supreme Court is right to stand for their rights and the action of the EPCA in sealing these commercial establishments is correct. Any knee-jerk reaction towards amending the Masterplan would have been to the detriment of the residents and while traders are disappointed, many of them realise deep down that good times, where they could ignore the authorities and rules, are over and that they must follow the rules and pay developmental charges and cut back illegal extensions. Sure, the growth of Delhi means that a pragmatic solution does need to be found and redeveloping local community centres legally, allowing them to add floors and build parking lots is needed. Yet, norms have to be followed, the complete lack of adherence to fire-safety norms in tony markets like Khan Market and Hauz Khas village should also be noted. And action must be taken on those officials who allowed the illegalities to flourish. If Delhi is to become a world-class city it must shed the tag of being a chaotic mess and it is time for the traders to start following the law.
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