Residents of city’s ‘affluent’ unauthorised colonies ask Centre for ownership rights

Residents of Sainik Farms, Chhatarpur Enclave and other 69 “affluent” residential colonies have written to the Delhi Development Authority and central government seeking ownership rights for their properties just like the 1,728 unauthorised colonies being provided under the PM-UDAY scheme.

In December 2019, the Centre enacted the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Unauthorised Colonies) Act, 2019, to give ownership rights to residents of unauthorised colonies. A total of 1,797 unauthorised colonies were identified for the purpose, but 69 were not included in the PM-UDAY scheme as these were “affluent”.

Of these 69 unauthorised colonies,

NEW DELHI:

a majority are located in South Delhi parliamentary constituency in areas such as Anant Ram Diary (RK Puram), Neb Sarai, Mehrauli, Bijwasan and Mahipalpur. Unlike a majority of the unauthorised colonies, these 69 mostly have farmhouses, big plots and have come up on privately owned agricultural land. Of the 1,700-odd colonies that are being given property ownership are those that have come up on government land.

“It’s been almost two years... Our demand is that we should be included in PM-UDAY scheme. We have written to the Prime Minister’s Office, housing and urban affairs ministry and DDA to expedite the process,” said Raman Aggarwal, president of 69 colonies welfare association (association of residential colonies that were not included in the Pradhan Mantriunauthorised Colonies in Delhi

an RWA president

Awas Adhikar Yojana).

HS Bhalla, president of Western Avenue Residential Welfare Association at Sainik Farms, said the neighbourhood came up in the 60s after defence personnel constructed their houses. In the subsequent years, several colonies, mainly having farmhouses, have come up on agricultural land around it. “Our colonies are located on private agricultural land. Most of the 69 colonies, termed ‘affluent’ by the government, are located on private agricultural land. When the government is giving ownership rights to other colonies, which are on agricultural land, then why not us?” said Bhalla.

He added, “All that they have to do is to add a slab for plots, which are bigger than 250 sq.m. If the government includes these 69 colonies in the ownership process, it will get a lot of revenue which it can use to develop the other colonies.”

The DDA, which is the nodal agency for implementing the PM-UDAY scheme, said a decision will be taken by the Centre. “We are currently streamlining the system to expedite the process to give ownership rights to 1,700-plus unauthorised colonies. We keep getting representations from these colonies regarding ownership rights. But the decision has to be taken at the central government’s level,” said a senior DDA official.

Despite repeated attempts, there was no response from the housing and urban affairs ministry.

These residential colonies also want the government to do away with the “affluent unauthorised colonies” categorisation.

Vani Aggarwal, general secretary of New RWA Chattarpur Phase-ii, said, “Some of the plots in our area are 150sq.m or small. All the 1,797 colonies should be treated at par.”

Residents have also approached the South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri to take up the matter with the Centre.

Bidhuri said, “I have written to the ministry of housing and urban affairs... The matter is under consideration. Their concerns will be addressed in the new Master Plan of Delhi.”

When govt is giving ownership rights to other colonies on agricultural land, then why not us?