DDA seal on illegal constructions?

NEW DELHI: Unauthorized constructionsin your house may soon be regularized, provided they meet fire and structuralsafety norms, and are not either encroaching upon government land or affectingthe rights of your neighbours. A meeting of the members of the DelhiDevelopment Authority (DDA) decided on Thursday that a proposal be drafted tothis effect as soon as possible.This means that any extra coveragewithin the plot area may be allowed if DDA comes up with such a policy. "TheAuthority, on Thursday, showed intent that a one-time general amnesty be broughtabout for extra construction in all buildings" meeting these norms, said a DDAofficial. "This amnesty will help regularize illegal construction in buildingcompounds by following a simple procedure," the officialsaid.According to MLA Subhash Chopra, this policy will providerelief to people who have built an extra room, extended verandahs etc and willput on hold the ongoing demolition drive going on in the city. "Any personliving in an unauthorized colony, unauthorized regularized colony, DDA flatsetc, who might have built an extra room within their building compound orextended their verandahs etc, might get relief under such a policy. A committeehas also been formed to discuss how this can be made possible as such a policymay require amendments in the building bylaws and Master Plan 2021 also," saidChopra. No decision has, however, been taken on the farmhousepolicy. "The Delhi cabinet is due to submit a policy relating to farmhouses,"said Chopra.The policy for sanctioning of building plans in Lal Doraas well as unauthorized regularized colonies was also discussed. "It was decidedthat the system of sanctioning of building plan should be simplified, so theplans get sanctioned with ease. The committee which has been constituted -comprising representatives of DDA, engineer-in-chief (MCD) and non-officialmembers of the Authority - will study documents required to be submitted alongwith the building plan and suggest simplification of documentation as well asprocedure," said a DDA official.Other important decisions taken inthe meeting included modifications in the Master Plan 2021. One of themodifications was regarding development of control norms for provision oflimited commercial activities in the existing petrol pumps. "As perthis approval, 10 FAR can be used in the existing petrol pumps for commercialpurposes on bigger plots of 1,000 meters and above. These petrol pumps shouldface a road as specified in the Master Plan. As per this decision, in case ofexisting petrol pumps, the provision of 10 FAR for commercial activities wouldbe permitted only to those petrol pumps which conform to controls as given inthe Master Plan and subject to payment of approved rate fee/ misuse penaltiesand other charges etc,'' said a DDA official.The DDA members alsosuggested that there should be more emphasis on increased and sufficientutilization of funds and a scheme for rewards and punishments should beintroduced to achieve fixed targets and timelines. They felt that the process ofexecution of various projects takes a long time and, therefore, procedures mayalso be looked into so the timelines can be reduced accordingly. Noland acquisition will be done in the city till the Centre comes out with aproper land policy, according to DDA's non-official members. The government isformulating such a policy presently. DDA had framed a land policybut it was never finalised.