In a reprieve to thousands of residents living in Karol Bagh, Daryaganj and Paharganj, whose properties could not be converted to freehold, the DDA in its board meeting has decided to convert all of them into freehold uniformly.
Residents of these areas, until now, had no option of converting their assets to leasehold as their leases have long expired. “The authority approved the proposal for issuing the orders for implementation of freehold policy uniformly in those areas, after payment of their pro-rata premium,” said a DDA official. Besides, the authority also approved a one-time relief scheme to facilitate conversion from leasehold to freehold for all those whose cases have been pending for years due to heavy misuse charges. The scheme includes restriction of the maximum period for levy of misuse charges up to five years from the date of detection of the misuse.
Responding to the reluctant-to-shift pleas of the residents of Kathputli Colony, Delhi lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung on Monday also directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to ensure that the shifting of dwellers is done amicably and without any inconvenience caused to them. He also emphasized on the need to keep sufficient back-up services, as required in multi-storey building once flats for allottees are constructed at the colony. Jung’s directions came at the authority’s board meeting held at Raj Niwas on Monday.
Apprising him that the petition filed by residents had been dismissed by the court, DDA officials told Jung that it was necessary to immediately start the shifting process. “The land at Anand Parbat is for public and semi-public use. As per the court’s direction, this land has to be utilised within two years by DDA for the same. Hence, the DDA has no other alternative except to shift the residents at the earliest so that flats can be constructed within two years and the Kathputli residents are shifted back thereby vacating the land at Anand Parbat for use as per the land use,” informed a DDA official. The developer has also been permitted to use unused FAR to construct more flats for the purpose, if required.
