The DDA today carried out the biggest draw of lots to allot over 16,100 flats under its housing scheme, fulfilling the dreams of many to have a roof in the national capital.
The draw was held in nearby Noida to decide the fate of 7.5 lakh applications.
Applicants thronged cyber cafes as well as their home and office computers as the Delhi Development Authority put the results of the draw on its website in the evening. A DDA spokesperson said the list of successful applicants will also be published in major newspapers tomorrow.
The draw was held in the morning in the Noida Sector—62 office of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C—DAC), whose help was taken by the DDA for the computerised lottery which went on for two hours and 45 minutes.
However, thousands of hopefuls who gathered in front of the C—DAC office, were disappointed as they were neither allowed inside to watch the proceedings nor video screens were installed outside for them.
Many were heard complaining that they had come from far-off places after coming to know from media that screens will be installed for the public to watch the proceedings.
Some said that after last time’s experience, when allegations of irregularities cropped up after the draw for its housing scheme, DDA should have been more transparent.
“Why it is shrouded in secrecy? It should have been more transparent,” said S Pandey, an advocate whose son had applied for a flat under the scheme.
Asked about the allegations of irregularities during the last draw of lots, DDA officials said all checks and balances were in place and independent observers were there.
Only a handful of mediapersons were allowed into a hall on the first floor with a screen whereas the draw was held on the ground floor, watched by observers —— Prabhat Kumar of ICRISAT, B V Rao, editor of Governance Now, Udai Shankar, Director (Finance) in Ministry of Development of North East Region and C K Chaturvedi, Additional District Judge of Saket.
The DDA had earlier said that as there is limited space at the C—DAC premises, it will be difficult to accommodate everyone wishing to witness the draw. For the first time, it was held in Noida and not in the DDA headquarters here as the agency said C—DAC only has the equipments needed for the draw.
The flats, located in areas like Vasant Kunj, Mukherjee Nagar, Motia Khan, Jasola, Dwarka, Rohini, Narela, Jaffarabad, Kondli and Gharoli, were given under categories like economically weaker section (EWS), one—room tenement, one—bedroom, two—bedrooms and three—bedrooms. The prices ranged from Rs 9 lakh to Rs Rs 1.12 crore.
The scheme was launched on November 25, 2010.
“An allotment letter will be issued within next 15 days to all successful allottees,” an official said.
