Suspension of DDA officials dents morale of JJ cluster residents

Action over ‘substandard’ work leaves beneficiaries of slum rehab project worried about future homes

New Delhi

Days after the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) suspended two of its assistant engineers over “substandard” work at the urban body’s in situ slum rehabilitation project at Kalkaji Extension, the residents of Bhoomiheen Camp (JJ cluster), who have been allotted flats in the project, remain worried about the quality of their future homes.

According to a senior DDA official and other sources, the suspensions came on the direction of Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena following his inspection of the site on June 11. Sources said the L-G found the work done in the flats to be “substandard and incomplete”.

The news about the suspensions and the “substandard” quality of the flats has left the residents of the JJ cluster in a fix about what to do next. While a number of allottees told  The Hindu that they have waited too long and would accept what comes their way, some beneficiaries said they were, in fact, reconsidering the option to move in.

Sapan Shah, 59, a beneficiary of the slum rehab project, said the recent developments have killed all his excitement about moving into the newly built homes.

“They should have looked into the quality of the houses beforehand or at least at the planning stage. Now the time has passed. We are paying out of our pocket for these homes. We don’t have a choice now, we must adjust to what we get,” said Mr. Shah, who has been residing at the JJ cluster since 1982.

Sharing a similar view, Parimal Mandal, a resident who runs a small shop at the camp, said since 2011, when the project was first conceived, the families at the JJ cluster have undergone multiple surveys to prove their eligibility and over 50% of them have received allotment-cum-demand letters so far.