Delhi Assembly monsoon session to begin on Aug 4
This will be the first fully digital and paperless session of the House, as part of the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) project. MLAs recently completed a three-day training to facilitate the transition, officials said.
The last assembly session—a budget session—was held between March 24 and April 2, during which chief minister Rekha Gupta, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented the annual budget for 2025–26.
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Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
CM orders depts to not demolish a single slum in Delhi
Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Friday announced an immediate halt to demolition drives in the Capital's slum clusters and promised that all future removals, if unavoidable, will be accompanied by advance rehabilitation. Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta. (PTI) Stressing that the city's slum dwellers will not be 'harassed anymore', she said that 50,000 old and dilapidated flats built for the economically weaker sections (EWS) will be renovated and allotted to slum dwellers. 'No slum will be removed without providing alternative housing first,' Gupta said, adding that if required, the government would amend the existing slum policy or even approach court to ensure protection for the poor. 'The pain of slum dwellers will not be ignored,' she said. Gupta's announcement comes amid mounting political tension over demolition drives in Delhi's informal settlements since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in February. While the demolitions – carried out by agencies like the DDA, Railways and municipal bodies – were largely in compliance with court orders, they sparked criticism from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which accused the BJP of breaking its pre-election promise to protect slum residents. Among the major drives were the June 1 demolition of 300 homes in Jangpura's Madrasi Camp, the June 17 razing of 200 structures in Ashok Vihar, and the June 18 clearance of 25 homes in Gokalpuri. The BJP defended the actions as necessary for reclaiming public land, but Gupta's announcement will come as a reassurance for residents. 'The slums in Delhi are an inseparable part of the city. My government is committed to giving them rightful recognition,' Gupta said, alleging that opposition parties had reduced slum dwellers to a vote bank. She said her government is holding meetings across departments to chalk out a plan for permanent housing and that all departments have been instructed to immediately halt any ongoing demolition activity. She also promised that if rules need to be changed to protect the rights of slum residents, her government will not hesitate to do so. A key part of this effort, she said, is the revival of 50,000 unallotted flats constructed for the poor years ago under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). These flats, which became dilapidated after lying vacant for years, will now be renovated and allotted to slum dwellers under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U). Gupta accused previous government of wasting the opportunity to house the poor. 'Despite receiving crores under JNNURM, the flats were never allocated. Departments like DUSIB and DSIIDC were on the verge of returning ₹732 crore to the central government,' she said. 'Now, with approval from the Union housing ministry, this money will be used to renovate the flats and house slum dwellers.' She said the dispute between the Delhi and central governments over whether the flats should be rented out or directly allotted to slum dwellers had stalled progress for years. Her government, she added, is now committed to direct allocation. 'In these neglected settlements, there was no drinking water, no drainage, no roads. Past governments left them to alcoholism and despair. My government will restore their dignity and give them the pride of being true citizens of Delhi,' she said. Responding to the allegation, AAP's Delhi state president Saurabh Bharadwaj said CM Gupta and the BJP have been bluffing the slum residents in the city. 'If Rekha Gupta is serious about slum rehabilitation, she should ask the central government and its agencies — such as the DDA, railways, and the land and development department — to withdraw the cases against these JJ clusters in the high court and Supreme Court,' Bharadwaj said in a statement.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
CM Gupta announces new integrated Delhi govt secretariat
Chief minister Rekha Gupta announced on Friday that Delhi will get a modern and integrated secretariat bringing all departments under one roof, as many government offices are currently housed in dilapidated buildings. Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta sweeps the floor as part of 'Delhi Ko Koode Se Azadi' campaign in New Delhi on August 1. (@gupta_rekha) Gupta made the announcement while launching the 'Delhi Ko Koode Se Azaadi' campaign from the premises of the department of women and child development at Kashmere Gate in north Delhi, where she expressed displeasure over the office's poor condition and said it deeply distressed her. 'It is shocking how officials entrusted with ensuring good governance in Delhi can work effectively in such deplorable circumstances. The ceilings are leaking, the furniture is broken, there are no proper chairs to sit on, cupboards are damaged, and the fans could fall at any moment,' Gupta said, adding that the building has still not been fully repaired after a fire incident in 2021. 'Are we forcing our officials to work while putting their lives at risk?' she asked. The chief minister's office did not share details about when and where the new integrated secretariat will be constructed and what use the current office premises will be put to. 'A suitable location will be identified where the new Delhi secretariat can be established, enabling all departments to function under one roof. We cannot leave our officials to work in miserable conditions any longer,' Gupta said. Gupta and her cabinet colleagues, the chief secretary and several top government officials currently work at the Players' Building popularly known as the Delhi Secretariat. The building does not have the space to accommodate all senior officials of the Delhi government, so many offices such as that of the revenue commissioner, labour commissioner, GST commissioner, education secretary, transport commissioner, excise commissioner, and secretary food and civil supplies, are located in different locations such as Civil Lines and Kashmere Gate. The Delhi government had planned to build around 35-storey-tall twin towers at ITO in 2022 to consolidate government offices into a single, modern facility. The plans were shelved mainly due to bureaucratic delays, funding issues, and disagreements over project details, officials said. Concerns were also raised about the impact of the project on heritage buildings and the feasibility of demolishing existing structures such as Vikas Bhawan 1, MSO Building, and GST Building. Administrative and political challenges also slowed down approvals and decision-making, delaying the project. Gupta criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which was in power in Delhi in 2022, for not building a modern building for government offices. 'Those who called themselves an 'educated government' were busy building lavish offices for themselves, but failed to provide even basic facilities essential for the working of our officials. The ones who spent ₹70 crore on their own office couldn't spend even a few crores on these departments,' she said. In response, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said, 'The chief minister and the BJP should understand that governance is not event management. She should know that Delhi can only be kept clean if MCD hires an adequate number of sanitation workers to clean the city on a daily basis. These month-long drives are merely temporary measures that may clean a road once a year. Sanitation is not an event—it is a continuous responsibility. The city needs to be cleaned every day. One cannot expect a Yamuna ghat to be cleaned once a year and then remain neglected. So, the Delhi Government and the BJP-ruled MCD must focus on serious, sustained governance.' CM begins cleaning drive with govt offices; slums, ghats next Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Friday launched a month-long sanitation campaign titled 'Delhi Ko Koode Se Azaadi', aiming to make the national capital clean, green, and free from waste by August 31. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship sanitation campaign, Gupta's campaign for Delhi seeks to involve multiple agencies and the people to clean the city. Gupta visited the office of the women and child development department at Kashmere Gate in the morning, where she personally swept the premises, and picked trash to formally launch the drive. 'Cleanliness is not just a habit but a civic duty. Today, the responsibility to make Delhi clean, green, and beautiful lies with all of us. The campaign will give new momentum to the Swachh Bharat Mission and transform cleanliness into a mass movement involving all citizens,' Gupta said, calling on the people of Delhi to join the campaign and make their neighbourhoods clean. Gupta said the campaign is not limited to public spaces but extends to government offices and workplaces. 'Every MLA, councillor, and government employee in the capital is a responsible partner in this change,' she said. The campaign will begin with a focus on cleaning government offices, schools, and hospitals during the first two days. Special drives will target unauthorised colonies and slum clusters every weekend, with dedicated cleanliness activities planned at the Yamuna Ghats on August 14, 21, and 28. The Ring Road area will undergo intensive cleaning on August 29 and 31. MCD has been allocated a budget of ₹5 crore to support the campaign, officials said. To encourage community participation, high-performing Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) will be rewarded with cash prizes — ₹25 lakh for first place, ₹15 lakh for second, and ₹10 lakh for third. 'In this one month, together we will clean every street, every colony, every market, and every public space. We will remove garbage, increase greenery, and make cleanliness a permanent habit,' Gupta said.
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
No slums will be demolished, open to policy change: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta
Facing fire from the Opposition and dissent within party ranks over the ongoing slum demolitions in the Capital, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta Friday said her government is open to amending Delhi's slum policy — countering claims that the BJP is reneging on its promises to the urban poor. Calling slum dwellers the 'backbone of Delhi's working class,' Gupta announced a halt on all demolitions unless alternative housing is provided in advance. The Delhi government has also made it clear that no slum will be removed in the Capital. Gupta directed land-owning agencies like the Railways, Delhi Development Authority, and other departments to 'immediately cease' any eviction drives and warned that her government would approach the courts if necessary. Her statement comes weeks after eviction notices were served to residents of a jhuggi cluster in R K Puram, an area where Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier assured slum dwellers that 'no jhuggi would be demolished'. The BJP has also faced internal criticism from its MLAs and booth workers, who had campaigned extensively in slums with the slogan 'jahan jhuggi, wahan makan'. Since the BJP government has taken charge in Delhi, major slums have been demolished over the past few months: Madrasi Camp (340 structures demolished), Bhoomiheen Camp (344 structures demolished), Jailer Wala Bagh (300 structures) and Taimoor Nagar (100 structures). Criticising both AAP and Congress, accusing them of historic neglect and using slum residents merely as 'vote banks', Gupta said: 'The Congress named colonies after their leaders but gave nothing. The AAP promised the world, but didn't even ensure clean drinking water or drainage. They pushed these communities into neglect and addiction.' She also announced that 50,000 unallotted flats in Outer Delhi — long left in disrepair — will be renovated under the PMAY-Urban and handed over to slum dwellers. The Centre has allowed Rs 732 crore, previously underutilised under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, to be repurposed for this housing initiative. In response to Gupta, AAP's Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj said, 'Rekha Gupta and her party have been bluffing the poor residents of Delhi for many months now. If Rekha Gupta is actually serious about what she is saying, then she should ask the central government and its agencies — DDA, Railways, and L&DO — to withdraw cases against these JJ clusters in the High Court and the Supreme Court.' Attempting to reframe the demolition narrative, Gupta claimed the BJP is the first government to pair evictions with actual housing handovers, unlike her predecessors. 'Previous governments simply watched slums grow. We are finally giving people homes — and dignity,' she said. She said slums are an inseparable part of the national capital and asserted that her government is making sincere efforts to ensure their rightful recognition as residents of Delhi.
