Top court pulls up DDA for reducing conversion charges in Delhi markets

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) move to provide relief to traders in south Delhi markets by reducing the conversion rate for commercial establishments has come under scrutiny of the Supreme Court, which on Monday questioned why it had taken the step.

The DDA had decided to cut the one-time conversion charge from ~89,000 per square metre to ~22,000 after traders in Defence Colony whose shops were sealed for not converting land-use had complained that the charges were too steep.

“It appears you are under a lot of pressure. Please file an affidavit to explain why you did it. Will you (DDA) do whatever you want to do? What about environmental law and fire safety,” a bench of Justices MB Lokur and Deepak Gupta said. The court is hearing a public interest litigant (PIL) related to the unauthorised use of premises in Delhi.

The Supreme Court bench had on March 6 stayed proposed changes to Delhi’s Master Plan2021 that gave relief to commercial establishments by increasing floor area ratio (FAR) and allowing the use of basements as commercial spaces.

On Monday, the court gave the DDA two weeks to respond on the conversion rate issue and sought to know whether construction in these markets adhered to environmental laws or not. The DDA was also asked to give details of fire-safety measures put in place by shopkeepers, if the infrastructure in the markets was sufficient to bear the load of commercial establishments, and if there were adequate parking facility for shoppers.

The Supreme Court also gave an ultimatum to a law firm operating from a basement in Hauz Khas market after it learnt that the building where its office is located violated the by-laws.

The sealing, being carried out under the supervision of a Supreme Court monitoring committee, is being conducted in areas where commercial and mixed-land use is not permitted or where extra floors have been built and balcony and basement were being used illegally. It has become a political issue, and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold an all-party meeting on Tuesday to work out ways to give relief to traders and shop owners.