Kejriwal Government puts DDA’s ambitious land pooling policy in cold storage

Addressing mediapersons at a Press Conference today held at Vidhan Sabha, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Vidhan Sabha, and Member DDA Sh. Vijender Gupta alleged that the Kejriwal Government has put the ambitious and highly beneficial Land Pooling Scheme of Delhi Development Authority in cold storage out of political motivation.  The Government has deliberately not acted on pushing the scheme since it came to power 15 months back.

Leader of Opposition said that since the scheme has been prepared by the Central Government, AAP Government has not taken up the scheme which has potential for providing 20 lakhs houses to Delhiites.  The worst sufferers of Delhi Government inaction are the people belonging to weaker sections since they are going to get affordable houses at reasonable price.   Gupta added that the compensation to the farmers has also been jeopardised.  BJP MLAs Sh. Om Prakash Sharma and Sh. Jagdish Pradhan were present in the conference.

 Gupta said that due to high-handedness of Delhi Government, the Central Government Scheme for providing housing at such a large scale is not being implemented.  The needy persons are spending large amount of their pay as rent.  He demanded immediate steps for implementation of the scheme. 

Leader of Opposition said that the Land Pooling matter has three major aspects which need to be resolved by Delhi Government:-

South Delhi and North Delhi Municipal Corporations had accorded approval in 2014  to urbanization of 89 villages.  Delhi Government is required to notify the scheme by giving status of urbanized villages to these villages by issuing a Notification in this respect but Delhi Government has failed to issue Notification till date to this effect.

  The Delhi Government is putting hurdles in declaring 95 villages as “development area” as envisaged in Section- 2 of the DDA Act, 1964.

The Revenue Department of Delhi Government had to verify the base maps prepared by DDA.  This crucial formality has not been fulfilled till date.

 Gupta informed that he had raised the matter of land pooling in DDA’s meeting wherein Lt. Governor, V.C.-DDA, Chief Secretary, Delhi Government, Pr. Secretary (UD) etc. were present.  But the Chief Secretary, Delhi Government could not give a cogent reply to the queries. All members expressed their dissatisfaction over the response of Delhi Government.

The former Vice-Chairman, DDA,  Balvinder Kumar had also written a letter on 16^th March, 2015 to the then Pr. Secretary (Revenue), and Director (Local Self Government)  to expedite the matter.  The present Vice- Chairman, Sh. Arun Goel also wrote a letter to DDA on 5^th October, 2015 to Pr. Secretary Delhi Government but no response has been received from Delhi Government till date.

 Gupta said that putting in cold storage the matter pertaining to land pooling policy of DDA is a very serious matter.  It is linked to the fate of 20 lakhs families.  They have to be provided housing at affordable cost.  If Delhi Government does not clear the matter linked to land pooling policy, BJP will have no choice but to launch a sustain campaign to get the land pooling policy implemented.