Prerita Arora
The traders' protest and the slum-eviction drive in Delhi can be traced to the failure of city planning and urban governance. What is required is a radical reconstruction of the concept of a city.
EVER SINCE the Supreme Court decided to get cracking on unauthorised commercial establishments in Delhi, traders have been crying hoarse. The court deadline for sealing commercial establishments is June 30. Traders are protesting against this court order and things are turning violent. For the Ministry of Urban Development, the only way to get around this mess and appease the traders was to notify amendment to the Delhi master plan. It has now been announced that commercial establishments can come up in residential areas even on roads as narrow as nine metres across.
In another part of Delhi, at the same time, slums along the river Yamuna were removed by another court order. Slum dwellers were asked to vacate. Bulldozers and authorities moved in and the huts were demolished. No violence was reported.
Powerful lobby
The traders in Delhi make a powerful lobby. They significantly contribute to Delhi's Rs.5,000 core sales tax base. They demand that a distinction be made between greed and need based violation. And, want the spread of commerce in residential area accommodated as a necessity. The Ministry has acceded to their demands. The city master plan is now amended.
The debates are focussed on mixed land use policy, the Ministry's ad hoc changes, and the judiciary's comprehension of civic planning. The question not many are asking is: why are traders more important than the poor in the slums. The focus on traders cannot distract us from the core issues of lack of social housing and failure of city planning
The traders' protest and the slum-eviction drive in Delhi can be traced to the failure of city planning and urban governance. What is required is a radical reconstruction of the concept of a city.
EVER SINCE the Supreme Court decided to get cracking on unauthorised commercial establishments in Delhi, traders have been crying hoarse. The court deadline for sealing commercial establishments is June 30. Traders are protesting against this court order and things are turning violent. For the Ministry of Urban Development, the only way to get around this mess and appease the traders was to notify amendment to the Delhi master plan. It has now been announced that commercial establishments can come up in residential areas even on roads as narrow as nine metres across.
In another part of Delhi, at the same time, slums along the river Yamuna were removed by another court order. Slum dwellers were asked to vacate. Bulldozers and authorities moved in and the huts were demolished. No violence was reported.
Powerful lobby
The traders in Delhi make a powerful lobby. They significantly contribute to Delhi's Rs.5,000 core sales tax base. They demand that a distinction be made between greed and need based violation. And, want the spread of commerce in residential area accommodated as a necessity. The Ministry has acceded to their demands. The city master plan is now amended.
The debates are focussed on mixed land use policy, the Ministry's ad hoc changes, and the judiciary's comprehension of civic planning. The question not many are asking is: why are traders more important than the poor in the slums. The focus on traders cannot distract us from the core issues of lack of social housing and failure of city planning
No comments:
Post a Comment