The Delhi Government has released Rs 500 crore to the Irrigation & Flood Control department (I&FC) for the purpose of carrying out basic development works in the unauthorised colonies of Delhi.

The move came a day after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that residents of unauthorised colonies in Delhi will soon have ownership rights of their houses and claimed that the Centre has agreed to the AAP Government’s proposal in this regard.

“The fund has been transferred to I&FC under the head of “Development of Unauthorised Colonies” for the financial year 2019-2020, according to an official statement issued on Friday.

The Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal directed officials of urban develop department to ensure that there is no financial constraint for the development work of unauthorised colonies and funds must be released on time.

The total budget allocation for the development works in unauthorised colonies in the current financial year is Rs 1,500 Crore. Out of the total budget, Rs 700 Cr have now been released to I&FC department for carrying out developmental works.

“Before 2015, neither MCD councillors nor Member of Legislative Assembly Local Area Development (MLALAD) funds could be spent on the development works in unauthorised colonies. Kejriwal Government amended the MLALAD guidelines to allow the elected representatives to spend the funds for providing basic facilities in these colonies. However, MCDs still do not allow their councillors to spend funds in unauthorised colonies,” it said.

It may be noted that the Chief Minister had been personally constantly monitoring and looking after the developmental works in the unauthorised colonies of the national capital since he assumed power in 2015.

The Government said the work of providing basic developmental facilities — sewers, drains, roads and lanes — is being carried out on a “war footing” in unauthorised colonies, adding that water distribution lines are being laid by the Delhi Jal Board.

It also alleged that BJP-led municipal corporations still do not allow their councillors to spend funds in unauthorised colonies.

Residents of these colonies play a vital role in deciding the electoral fate of any political party. On Thursday, Kejriwal announced that the Centre’s approval to regularise unauthorised colonies will be received “very soon”.

The Delhi cabinet had cleared the proposal to regularise 1797 colonies on 2nd November 2015 and sent it to the Centre on 12th November 2015. The Centre has now sent a communication to the Delhi government stating its in-principle approval for regularisation of 1797 unauthorised colonies.