New Delhi, Oct 18 (IANS) The regularisation of unauthorised colonies in the national capital is a “step in the right direction”, provided their development is ensured, says a visiting professor and expert from America’s Brown University.
“Regularisation of unauthorised colonies in the capital is a step in the right direction and makes sense,” Patrick Heller, the director of graduate programme in development studies at Watson Institute for International Affairs, told IANS Wednesday.
Heller was in the city to speak on ‘Indian Cities in Comparative Perspective’, a lecture organised by the Jamia Millia Islamia university in its campus.
“The tag of ‘unauthorised’ colonies always creates problems in the long run for all those who live there,” he added.
Heller said that ensuring development and delivering basic services like food, water, sewage system and electricity should be the first priority of the government.
“The future of Delhi as an urban, metropolitan city is bright, but the biggest challenge is that of inclusive growth as almost 65 percent of Delhiites who live in slums have no rights,” said the professor of sociology and international studies.
Heller, however, pointed out that the process to achieve inclusive growth was complicated owing to unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and called for better coordination between state and central governments to overcome such problems.
He said it was important to do so because by 2030 half of India would be urbanised.
The Delhi government had last month regularised 895 colonies, paving the way for their development on par with other areas of the city.
