Parliamentary panels pulls up DDA over land pooling, workforce issues

NEW DELHI: Noting that regulations for operationalisation of Land Pooling Policy are yet to get final nod from Urban Development Ministry, a Parliamentary panel has asked the Delhi Development Authority to act promptly so that the problem of housing shortage can be addressed.

In a report presented to Lok Sabha today, the Standing Committee on Urban Development said that in its 31st Report tabled earlier, the panel had expressed concern over shortage of houses in Delhi particularly for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS).

The report said that the DDA had informed that Land Pooling Policy notified in September 2013 would address the magnitude of problems of housing shortage.

"However, from Action Taken Replies, the Committee are concerned to note that the regulations for operationalisation of Land Pooling Policy is yet to get the final approval of Ministry of Urban Development," the Panel said in the report.

It added that the process of declaration of 95 villages as development area of DDA and notification of 89 villages as urban villages under Section 507 of Delhi Municipal Council Act had already been initiated.

However, this can be fructified only after the operationalisation of Land Pooling Policy, the panel observed.

The Committee reiterated their recommendation that DDA should take concerted effort to finalise the Land Pooling Policy and take appropriate action in this regard at the earliest.

It also expressed dissatisfaction over the regularisation process of unauthorised colonies.

"The Committee desire that the regularisation as well as development of all 1639 colonies should be completed within a time limit of 2 years and 6 months," the panel said.

The panel also noted that it had in an earlier report expressed concern over the "depleting image of DDA."

It said that while some steps in this regard have been taken ny DDA but as a premier organisation, it has definitely failed to deliver its objectives.