New Delhi: Chief Minister Atishi Marlena on Wednesday said that an approval from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will not be needed to get power connections and install meters in 1,731 unauthorised colonies in the city. Addressing a press conference, Atishi also accused the DDA, led by the BJP, of harassing the people residing in these unauthorised colonies.
Earlier, an NOC was needed to establish that a house in an unauthorised colony was not covered by land pooling policy of the DDA, said Atishi. She added that the decision was taken after listening to the grievances of residents of areas like West Kamal Vihar, Swaroop Vihar Extension, Mohan Garden, Nawada Extension, and Vipin Garden.
No need of NOC now
Atishi said that power discoms have been instructed to provide power connections in unauthorised colonies sans a ‘no objection certificate’ (NOC) from the DDA. Atishi said, “The Delhi government has decided that a NOC will not be required for installing electricity meters in the 1,731 unauthorised colonies. Anyone residing in these colonies can apply for a meter and they will receive a connection within 15 days, as stipulated by the DISCOMs. Orders have been issued to the electricity companies to ensure that no NOC is needed for installing meters in these colonies.”
She added that no matter how much the saffron party and DDA try to harass the residents of such colonies, the AAP-led Delhi government will not allow that.
DDA’s stance
The DDA, in one its statement, said that acting on the direction of the Delhi L-G VK Saxena, it has issued new orders replacing all the previous ones, for providing power connections by discoms in the land pooling areas of the national capital. The discoms can now issue fresh power connections suo moto for constructions within notified PM-UDAY colonies, Lal Dora and extended Lal Dora areas by referring to the list of such areas, it added.
