May 10,2018:

On Wednesday, Delhi High Court reminded AAP Government that its job was not just to pay compensation to slum-dwellers affected by a massive fire in East Delhi, but also ensure their rehabilitation.

HC Bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar had issued notice to Delhi Government and other authorities seeking their response on a plea moved by a social activist alleging that proper facilities like adequate water, toilets, tents and food were not being provided to those who lost all their belongings in the fire of April 23.

Residents of the slums in Mansarovar Park in east Delhi where hit by a massive fire which also claimed the life of a six-year-old girl.

Application moved by Social-Activist Sunil Kumar Aledia who submitted that the mobile toilets provided in the area was not cleaned regularly, sleeping provisions were inadequate and the water tanks provided were of insufficient quantity and empty most of the time.

Advocate Kamlesh Kumar Mishra, appearing on bhelagf of the Social Activist stated that situation at the site was "horrible" as people were "sleeping in filth" due to overflowing toilets and with no electricity to provide respite from the heat.

Delhi Government submitted a status report claiming it has provided two tanks of 4,000 litre capacity which are regularly filled up. It also said a round-the-clock CATS ambulance is present at the site, additional mobile toilets have been put in place, sufficient food packets are being distributed and over 100 cheques of Rs 25,000 have been handed out.

It further submitted that, apart from that, 78 more cheques of Rs 25,000 have been sanctioned for distribution, the government told the court. However, the court said, "Your job is not to just make payments, but also ensure rehabilitation. Needful be done at the earliest." It listed the matter for hearing on May 14.

On April 24, Delhi HC had directed the Delhi government to immediately provide necessary facilities, including water, tents and food, to the slum-dwellers of Mansarovar Park where around 300 shanties were destroyed in the massive fire.

Fresh Application by Social-Activist Aledia, seeks directions to the authorities to organise voter ID and Aadhaar registration camps as the victims have lost their documents in the fire.

Main petition by Aledia, in which the application was filed, claimed that several livestock such as goats, hens and dogs were also burnt and many people have received burn and other types of injuries.

Source Hindu

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