The Delhi Government has intensified its efforts to allot nearly 50000 EWS (Economically Weaker Section) flats, which have remained vacant for several years. These flats, constructed between 2007 and 2017 in different phases across multiple locations, have been lying unused due to prolonged disagreements between the Central and Delhi Governments.
The unallotted flats are situated in:
Bhawana
Narela
Savda Ghewra
Sultanpuri
Jahangirpuri
Rohini
Despite being fully constructed, these flats were neither handed over to end-users nor opened for rental housing due to policy conflicts.
Nearly 50000 EWS flats built by the Delhi Government are lying empty for many years.
These flats were constructed in different phases between 2007 and 2017.
These EWS flats are situated in:
Bhawana
Narela
Savda Ghewra
Sultanpuri
Jahangirpuri
Rohini
All these flats are unallotted and unused.
There was no mutual agreement between:
The Central Government, and
The Delhi State Government
Because of this conflict:
The flats were neither allotted to slum dwellers,
Nor given on rent under rental schemes.
Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government wanted:
To give these flats permanently to slum dwellers under:
Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana (Slum Rehabilitation Scheme)
The Central Government wanted:
To give these flats under the Affordable Rental Housing Scheme (ARHC).
These flats would be rented at very low rates to:
Migrant workers
Labourers
People who temporarily work in Delhi
When migrants leave Delhi, the next worker can use the flat.
Meaning: Temporary rental housing, not permanent allotment.
The flats remained unused.
No allotment happened for years.
In the last two months, three review meetings were conducted.
Delhi’s Development Minister Ashish Sood held these meetings with senior officials.
To finalize a new policy for allotting the vacant EWS flats.
Delhi Government wants to modify this existing 2015 policy.
Relax eligibility criteria (make it easier for people to qualify).
Example changes:
Income limit may be increased beyond the current ₹3 lakh annual income.
Earlier rule: Only those living in slums before 2006 were eligible.
New proposal: Eligibility cut-off year may be changed to 2012.
In August:
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and Development Minister Ashish Sood visited the EWS flats in Sultanpuri.
The CM said:
These vacant flats will be allotted to people soon.
Because they are vacant for many years, the flats have become:
Damaged
Unusable
In need of repairs
DUSIB = Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board
The CM directed:
Repair must start immediately.
Repair should be done in phases, not all 50000 at once.
Worst-damaged flats should be repaired first.
The new policy may include:
Permanent allotment to slum dwellers
Rental allotment to migrant workers at affordable rent
The government may:
Permanently allot a certain percentage to slum dwellers
Give remaining flats on rent to migrant workers
Exact details will be known after the final policy is released.
A draft of the new policy will be released soon.
It will be placed in the public domain.
Public can submit:
Suggestions
Objections
Improvements
This is part of the standard public consultation process.
During the last Delhi Assembly elections:
BJP strongly raised the issue that 50000+ flats are lying unused.
They criticized the Delhi Government for not allotting them.
(Since Rekha Gupta and Ashish Sood are representing the BJP govt.)
Now people will see:
How quickly the new government repairs the flats
How fast they allot them
What policy changes they actually implement
Time will show how soon the flats become operational.
Changing eligibility year from 2006 → 2012
Increasing income eligibility beyond ₹3 lakh
Dividing flats between:
Slum dwellers (permanent allotment)
Migrant workers (affordable rent)
Repairing flats in phases
Public consultation for the new policy