New Delhi [India], August 2 (ANI): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday inspected nearly 50,000 long-abandoned Delhi Development Authority (DDA) flats in Sultanpuri and said the BJP is committed to ensuring the poor have access to housing, security, and improved facilities, while criticising previous governments for failing to allocate the units to slum dwellers for over a decade.

During her visit, CM Gupta said the nearly 50,000 flats constructed in 2011 remained unutilised for over a decade, worsening in condition and now requiring extensive repairs.

Speaking to ANI, CM Gupta said, 'These flats, built in 2011, were meant to provide housing for poor people living in slums. However, due to the government's negligence and ill intentions, these flats were repeatedly prevented from being allocated to slum residents. They intended to keep the poor in slums without basic facilities. Today, these 50,000 flats are in a dilapidated state and require crores of rupees to repair. The BJP is committed to ensuring that the poor have access to housing, security, and improved facilities.'

'As per the vision of PM Modi that every poor person should get their own home, we are working towards achieving this goal. We have given instructions that, regardless of the agency involved, they must not destroy the slums. Until we provide houses to the poor, we don't want to hear anyone's complaints. Opposition should also not get involved in this. If necessary, then we can also build 10 lakh more houses,' Delhi CM added.

Delhi Minister Ashish Sood said the initiative is part of a broader housing push guided by the Prime Minister's directives.

'On the instructions of the Prime Minister, we promised to build houses in place of slums. To fulfil this promise, the CM allocated Rs 200 crore in her budget. Under these provisions, we have come here to inspect the work. Now, the time has come to provide a dignified life to the citizens of Delhi living in the slums. By repairing and rebuilding, we will work to give a dignified life to the people of EWS Housing,' Sood told reporters.

BJP leader Yogendra Chandolia claimed the flats were actually constructed in 2016 and comprise 1,060 units.

He added, 'These houses were built in 2016. There are 1060 houses. Under the Prime Minister's promise of 'Jaha Jhuggi Wahi Makaan,' the work of relocating people living in slums within a 1-kilometre radius of this area will be carried out here. Previous governments did not utilise these houses; they deceived slum people and continue to mislead them into believing that their slums will be demolished. The reason why these houses were not allocated for about nine years after 2016 should be investigated.'

'Now the Prime Minister has given Rs. 200 crores for this. They will be maintained, and the people of the surrounding area, the people of the slum settlement, will be settled here. With this, the lifestyle of the people living in the slum settlement will be elevated. And they will be free from filth and live in cleanliness,' Chandolia said.

Meanwhile, on Friday, the Delhi CM said the state government has made it clear that no slum will be removed in the capital. Accordingly, directives have been issued to all concerned departments, including the Railways and DDA, to ensure that no slum is demolished. (ANI)