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Unpacking the “Unauthorized Colony”: Policy, Planning and Everyday Lives

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Space, Planning and Everyday Contestations in Delhi

Part of the book series: Exploring Urban Change in South Asia ((EUCS))

Abstract

Unauthorized colonies are one of seven “unplanned” settlement types in Delhi. A significant number of potential voters in these colonies has made their regularization a central election promise. This chapter unpacks the “unauthorized colony”, analyses the legal and policy framework for regularization of these colonies in Delhi and explores narratives about Delhi’s largest cluster of unauthorized colonies in Sangam Vihar, examining how the promise of regularization has impacted the daily lives of its residents.

The authors would like to thank Dr. Partha Mukhopadhyay and Dr. Patrick Heller for their guidance and valuable feedback; and Ben Mandelkern and Sonal Sharma for their very helpful comments on previous versions of this chapter. They are also grateful to Bijendra Kumar Jha, Varsha Bhaik and Ram Pravesh Shahi for helping them with fieldwork in several blocks of Sangam Vihar. This chapter is based on research conducted as part of the Cities of Delhi research project at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), New Delhi.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    According to policy documents of the GNCTD, there are seven types of settlements besides “Planned Colonies” in Delhi. These include the following: slum designated areas, jhuggi jhompri clusters, unauthorized colonies, regularized unauthorized colonies, resettlement colonies, urban villages and rural villages.

  2. 2.

    Public communications of the GNCTD prior to the Delhi State Assembly Elections (2013) and various media reports quoting the GNCTD.

  3. 3.

    Jhuggi jhompri clusters, or JJCs, are another one of seven unplanned settlements; they may be defined as non-notified squatter settlements, mostly on public land, which have been built without permission of the concerned land owning agency.

  4. 4.

    The Delhi Development Act 1957 (Parliament of India, 1957a) established the DDA as Delhi’s “main land management body” with its primary mandate being to undertake land use planning and to develop housing in Delhi. It is also the public agency with the highest land ownership in Delhi, owning about a quarter of Delhi’s land (Sheikh and Mandelkern, 2014).

  5. 5.

    During that time, first the MCD would pass a resolution to regularize an unauthorized colony (or a set of unauthorized colonies in) Delhi under Section 313 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 (Parliament of India, 1957b) after considering the layout plan (or plans) of the concerned colony (or colonies). Once the resolution was passed, it would be forwarded to the Technical Committee of DDA, chaired by the Town Planner, who would then ensure that the regularization would be in consonance with the Master Plan and the final approval would be given by the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India.

  6. 6.

    Earlier, this was one of three: Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB). In 2012, MCD was trifurcated into: South Delhi Municipal Corporation, North Delhi Municipal Corporation and East Delhi Municipal Corporation.

  7. 7.

    The Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) or Residents’ Welfare Society has been defined by the 2008 Regulations as follows: “a society registered under The Societies Registration Act 1860, comprising members of the unauthorised colony/habitation which will be responsible for coordination, preparation of layout plans, and for liaison with the concerned agency in respect of various issues pertaining to the regularization process” (DDA, 2008a: 7).

  8. 8.

    The layout plan has to include information such as boundaries of the colony, names of streets and neighbouring areas.

  9. 9.

    PRC for K Block, Sangam Vihar viewed by researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on 9th May, 2013.

  10. 10.

    Lokayukta is an anti-corruption ombudsman authority which is constituted by different states in India. Its main mandate is to investigate allegations of corruption and poor administration in public offices and provide fast redressal to public grievances.

  11. 11.

    Italics used to refer to this wave of regularization, as claimed by the GNCTD, in (2012).

  12. 12.

    Category A: private land owned by private individuals; category B: notified land for acquisition but where no awards have been made by the collector resulting in a lapse of acquisition proceedings; category C: land that has been notified for acquisition and award with respect to the same has also been made by the Collector; however, the possession of such land has not yet been taken over; and category D: land “vested with the Gaon Sabha” under the Delhi Land Reforms Act but where physical possession is with private owners (GNCTD, 2013a).

  13. 13.

    MLA of Sangam Vihar Assembly Constituency (2008–2013), in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on May 10, 2013. Further, since 200,000 voters are estimated to be registered across all blocks of Sangam Vihar according to the residents and local political party workers, a million as the population estimate appears accurate as many residents living on rent in Sangam Vihar are not registered voters.

  14. 14.

    Former President of the RWA of A Block, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on August 5, 2013.

  15. 15.

    Former President of the RWA of B Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on July 11, 2013.

  16. 16.

    Various residents of blocks of Sangam Vihar, in discussion with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, during field visits in 2013.

  17. 17.

    Various residents of blocks of Sangam Vihar, in discussion with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, during field visits in 2013.

  18. 18.

    These housing schemes belonging to following categories: Middle Income Group (MIG), Lower Income Group (LIG), Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and SFS (Self Financing Scheme).

  19. 19.

    MLA of Sangam Vihar Assembly Constituency (2008–2013), in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on May 10, 2013.

  20. 20.

    Suraj Lamps & Industries v. State of Haryana—(2012) 1 SCC 656.

  21. 21.

    Suraj Lamps & Industries v. State of Haryana—(2012) 1 SCC 656.

  22. 22.

    Various residents of blocks of Sangam Vihar, in discussion with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, during field visits in 2013.

  23. 23.

    The pradhan is an unelected, widely recognized, informal representative of a significant number of residents in a community.

  24. 24.

    Based on documents submitted as part of applications for regularization by different blocks of Sangam Vihar.

  25. 25.

    Office bearers of the RWA of B Block, Sangam Vihar, in discussion with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on September 2, 2013; and President of RWA of A Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on August 5, 2013.

  26. 26.

    President of RWA of A Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi on August 5, 2013.

  27. 27.

    At least eighteen blocks of Sangam Vihar (such as blocks D, F-1, F-2, K, K-1, G-2, H, I, I-2, J-1, J-2, J-2B) are included in the Sangam Vihar AC, and about ten blocks (such as blocks A, B, C, F-3, L-1, L-2, M, N) are a part of the Deoli AC.

  28. 28.

    Office bearers of the Sangam Vihar Vikas Samiti Mahasangh, in discussion with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on May 31, 2013.

  29. 29.

    One lac or one lakh is 100,000.

  30. 30.

    Letter dated 30th January 1987, written by Kishan Chand Bainiwal, Deputy Leader, Congress (I) Party in MCD, Member, Standing Committee, Municipal Corporation of Delhi to Dalbir Singh, Minister of State for Urban Development, Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi.

  31. 31.

    Various office bearers of RWAs of Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, in 2013.

  32. 32.

    President of one of the RWAs of K Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on April 14, 2013.

  33. 33.

    President of one of the RWAs of K Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on April 14, 2013.

  34. 34.

    Former President of RWA of F-3 Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on November 26, 2013.

  35. 35.

    Office bearers of the Sangam Vihar Mahasangh, in discussion with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on May 31 2013.

  36. 36.

    Office bearers of the Sangam Vihar Mahasangh, in discussion with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on May 31 2013; an office bearer of the Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on May 23, 2013.

  37. 37.

    Office bearers of RWA of K Block, Sangam Vihar, in discussion with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on May 9, 2013.

  38. 38.

    Former President of the RWA of B Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on July 11, 2013.

  39. 39.

    Former President of RWA of F-3 Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on November 26, 2013.

  40. 40.

    President of one of the RWAs of K Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on May 9, 2013.

  41. 41.

    President of one of the RWAs of K Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on May 9, 2013.

  42. 42.

    President of one of the RWAs of K Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on May 9, 2013.

  43. 43.

    Resident of I Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on October 30, 2013.

  44. 44.

    Resident of I Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on October 30, 2013.

  45. 45.

    MLA of Sangam Vihar Assembly Constituency (2008–2013), in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on May 10, 2013.

  46. 46.

    MLA of Sangam Vihar Assembly Constituency (2008–2013), in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on May 10, 2013.

  47. 47.

    Resident of I Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on October 30, 2013.

  48. 48.

    Letter dated 30th January 1987, written by Kishan Chand Bainiwal, Deputy Leader, Congress (I) Party in MCD, Member, Standing Committee, Municipal Corporation of Delhi to Kuldip Singh Gujral, Chairman, DESU, Shakti Sadan, New Delhi.

  49. 49.

    Letter dated 15th November 1988, written by R. K. Gupta, Commercial Office—II, DESU to Pragtishil Welfare Association Sangam Vihar, New Delhi.

  50. 50.

    Letter dated 15th November 1988, written by R. K. Gupta, Commercial Office—II, DESU to Pragtishil Welfare Association Sangam Vihar, New Delhi.

  51. 51.

    Former President and General Secretary of RWA of A Block, Sangam Vihar, in discussion with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on July 9, 2013. The rates were: Rs. 100 for a 50 square yard plot, Rs. 200 for a 100 square yard plot and Rs. 400 for a 200 square yard plot.

  52. 52.

    Office bearer of the Sangam Vihar Mahasangh in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on May 23, 2013.

  53. 53.

    The operation of these private borewells has been documented by Dasappa-Kacker and Joshi (2012).

  54. 54.

    Former President of the RWA of A Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on July 9, 2013.

  55. 55.

    The DJB is an agency of the GNCTD that is responsible for provision of water and sewerage services in Delhi.

  56. 56.

    Woman resident of K Block Sangam Vihar, in discussion with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on May 9, 2013.

  57. 57.

    Woman resident of K Block Sangam Vihar, in discussion with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on May 9, 2013.

  58. 58.

    Woman resident of B Block Sangam Vihar, in discussion with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on November 19, 2013.

  59. 59.

    Various residents of blocks of Sangam Vihar, in discussion with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, during field visits in November and December 2013.

  60. 60.

    Resident of I Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on October 30, 2013.

  61. 61.

    Former President of the RWA of A Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on July 9, 2013.

  62. 62.

    Office bearer of the Sangam Vihar Mahasangh in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on May 23, 2013. Bhagidari (partnership) was a scheme launched by the GNCTD which aimed at participatory governance by establishing a dialogue between various stakeholders: departments of the GNCTD, citizens groups like Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and Market and Traders Associations (MTAs) to work out solutions to common civic problems.

  63. 63.

    District Development Committees, established by the GNCTD, were intended to encourage decentralized decision-making and to provide responsive and responsible administration by involving elected representatives of the area (MLAs and Municipal Councillors), RWAs, Deputy Commissioners and district level officers of the various GNCTD departments and civic bodies.

  64. 64.

    Former President of the RWA of B Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on July 11 2013.

  65. 65.

    Former President of the RWA of A Block, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on August 5, 2013.

  66. 66.

    Former President of the RWA of A Block, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on August 5, 2013.

  67. 67.

    MLA of Sangam Vihar Assembly Constituency (2008–2013), in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on May 10, 2013.

  68. 68.

    Office bearers of RWAs of Blocks F-2 and K in Sangam Vihar, in discussion with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, in November 2013.

  69. 69.

    Former President of RWA of F-3 Block, Sangam Vihar, in conversation with researchers from the Cities of Delhi research project at CPR, New Delhi, on November 26, 2013.

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  1. Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, India

    Shahana Sheikh

  2. Harvard University, Cambridge, USA

    Subhadra Banda

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  1. ALHOSN University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Surajit Chakravarty

  2. Ambedkar University Delhi, New Delhi, India

    Rohit Negi

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Shahana Sheikh, Subhadra Banda (2016). Unpacking the “Unauthorized Colony”: Policy, Planning and Everyday Lives. In: Chakravarty, S., Negi, R. (eds) Space, Planning and Everyday Contestations in Delhi. Exploring Urban Change in South Asia. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2154-8_8

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