New Delhi, Oct. 25 -- Getting plans for buildings in the villages of Delhi approved is set to get easier with the South Delhi Municipal Corporation deciding to remove the necessity of producing any proof of ownership. The move by the SDMC is expected to benefit lakhs of people living in the villages who do not have ownership documents, as most of these properties were inherited.
"The SDMC, since it was created earlier this year, has tried to simplify the process of approving building plans to encourage more applications from residents. Villagers will no longer require ownership documents," said a SDMC official. The proposal is awaiting a nod from the commissioner.
The revised rule will instead require village residents to submit affidavits mentioning them as owners of the land.
Residents of other areas of Delhi, including those living in authorised colonies, must still submit proofs of ownership.
A lack of options is driving the residents of these urban villages without papers of their property to opt for unauthorised constructions.
According to officials of the corporation, most of the land in the villages was distributed decades ago among family members and children of the original owners without change in the ownership details.
"By removing the clause, we expect many property owners to come forward and register their properties. It will add to the revenue of the corporation and ensure building safety," added the official.
The SDMC has also decided to relax the floor-area ratio (FAR) for the villages.
This has been done because the FAR granted to the areas have been exceeded.
Residential properties in these villages now stand on what was agricultural land years ago.
Plans for buildings in the areas cannot be approved simply because the FAR had been calculated on the "khasra" and not the particular plot.
The BJP, which is in control of the SMDC, with its eyes firmly on next year's Assembly elections, has proposed to regularise subdivision of plots in Lal Dora Extension areas.
Currently, the subdivided plots of only Lal Dora or village areas could be regularised.
"The bigger plots in villages were divided and distributed by the original owners. Such plots belonging to Lal Dora areas have the right to get their building plans sanctioned and thus the extension areas should also get the same benefits," said SDMC standing committee chairman Rajesh Gehlot.
Published by HT Syndication with permission from Hindustan Times.