DDA DOESN’T HAVE COMPILED DATA OF BRITISH-ERA LEASES

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) does not have a consolidated list of properties worth hundreds of crore which were leased out during the British era. It came to light during a hearing before the Central Information Commission (CIC), which has directed DDA to prepare the list within six months.

The old scheme branch of the DDA has admitted that there are 6,000-7,000 properties, given on lease during the British era, on which deliberations are going on whether to continue with their lease or take action.

“Such an information was expected to be already available with the DDA considering the fact that planned development of Delhi is one of the primary functions of the DDA under Sections 711A of the DD Act of 1957,” information commissioner Yashovardhan Azad said.

The commission noted that it is impossible to answer the queries because of non-availability of any compiled information, as it transpires from the above deliberations and also it is not possible to hold any one PIO as custodian of the information.

Mr Azad directed the DDA to furnish within three week a response clearly stating the current status of compilation of records with respect to the leases, their lessees, tenure, decision taken after expiry of such leases and the time expected for compilation of tabulation of complete data.