In a major setback to industrial units in Delhi, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked them to surrender those portions of their factory land which had become available due to relocation of hazardous industries from Delhi, to DDA. These lands are now to be developed into green belts without any compensation.
While dismissing a batch of petitions filed by various firms, including KL Rathi Steel and Birla, a bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan, said such surrender of excess land and development of green belts in the worst-polluted city conforms with the concept of ?community need? under the master plan. Such dedicated land will be used only for such dedicated purpose and not any other purpose, the bench reiterated.
?It would, therefore, be in conformity with the broader concept of ?community need? under the master plan, to permit the owner to develop a part of the land for his own benefit and surrender the remaining land for the use of the community at large,? the bench added ?There is no question of acquisition and/or compensation in regard to the lands to be surrendered is also evident from the categorical directions given in the order dated May 10, 1996?, the court said. It also clarified that where the land is acquired or used for any other purpose under extreme necessity, the land owner would be entitled to get 50% of the compensation or consideration for the use of such land.