In the Past Decade, AAP Government in Delhi Requested Land for Just 25 New Schools: DDA
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Synopsis
The DDA's recent disclosure reveals that the AAP government in Delhi has only pursued land for 25 new schools over the last decade, amidst ongoing political debates about the education model, highlighting challenges in land transfer and urbanization.
Key Takeaways
- AAP government's land requests for new schools limited to 25.
- Challenges with land transfer due to urbanization.
- Key lawmakers advocating for school openings.
- Amanatullah Khan's legal troubles continue.
- Election victory for Khan in the Okhla constituency.
New Delhi, April 3 (NationPress) In the midst of an intense political discussion in Delhi regarding the former AAP administration's educational framework, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) revealed on Thursday that over the last ten years, the education department has requested land for merely 25 new schools.
Nearly a third of these plots remain untransferred, attributed to challenges such as the absence of layout plans for land-pooling areas within urbanized villages, as stated by the DDA.
Notably, controversial AAP legislator from Okhla, Amanatullah Khan, along with Tughlakabad MLA Sahi Ram, are among the various lawmakers striving to establish government schools in their respective constituencies, as indicated by official documents.
Khan has been advocating for a school in Zakir Nagar-Jasola, while Sahi Ram is seeking land allocation in Lal Kuan on the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road in South Delhi.
Khan has faced multiple legal challenges during his decade-long tenure as the Okhla legislator. In September of the previous year, he was detained by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case involving irregularities in appointments at the Delhi Waqf Board during his chairmanship. He was subsequently granted bail.
In February, Khan was charged for attempting to obstruct law enforcement and engaging in a physical altercation. According to police reports, this incident occurred in the Jamia Nagar area when the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police attempted to arrest one Shabaz Khan, a suspect in an attempted murder case.
Khan's confrontation with the police facilitated Shabaz's escape from arrest.
Amanatullah Khan triumphed over BJP's Manish Chaudhary by a margin of 23,639 votes in the recently held Delhi Assembly elections, securing 88,392 votes against BJP's Chaudhary's 65,304 votes. This marks Khan's third consecutive electoral victory in Okhla.
Previously, the DDA indicated that while possession of eight out of the 25 plots remains pending, most of the remaining plots were allocated between February 23, 2017, and January 2024.
Regarding the delay in land allotment for certain plots, the DDA explained that the lands requested for schools are Gram Sabha lands from various villages designated by Gram Sabha to the Department of Education, GNCTD, for establishing schools.
The DDA further cited issues regarding the transfer of certain lands, noting that the villages to which these lands belong have undergone urbanization, and the land is now under the jurisdiction of the DDA.
“The subject lands have not been handed over as these areas are part of land pooling zones and lack prepared sector and layout plans,” stated the DDA.
