The Delhi Development Authority has been asked to prevent encroachment of its land and identify officials whose negligence and corrupt practices have resulted in such encroachment.
The recommendation has been made by Standing Committee on working of the DDA which also pointed out that 1402.16 acre of DDA land in under encroachment while only 402.428 acres of land could be reclaimed during the last five years.
The Committee felt that one of the main reasons for encroachment was that “the common land in urban villages, towns/ cities is being usurped by influential people for self illegal occupants protected by vote bank politics.”
The Ministry of Urban Development and the DDA stated that reclaiming land that has been encroached prior to 2007 is not possible due to the Special Provision Act.
To this, the Committee recommended that land records be surveyed and mutation done as per the revenue records.
The standing committee noted that as per the Annual Report 2010-11, the most important function of the Land Management Department of DDA is to protect land from encroachments.
It said the data provided by DDA of land under encroachment is clearly indicative of inaction on the part of DDA officials which has put burden on resources of the state government as well as DDA.
The Committee recommended that responsibility be fixed on officials found negligent and exemplary punishment be inflicted on them.
The government and the DDA in its reply said the work force under the Land Management department is insufficient to protect large chunks of DDA's open land which could not be put to use for decades, though the lands were acquired for planned development of Delhi.
The Committee was “perturbed to note that the work force under the Land Management Department (of DDA) is insufficient to protect the DDA's open land. But this is no excuse to accept the encroachment of DDA land by unlawful elements.”
The Committee recommended “the work force under the Land Management Department should be increased and the encroachment of DDA land should be prevented to save scarce resources for future planned development. It also said DDA should construct the boundary wall around all the open land under its preview.
The DDA said removal and demolition of encroachments is a time-consuming affair which requires approval of higher authorities, checking court cases, stay orders, sensitiveness from the law and order point of view etc. It said within the means available, the land management department conducts encroachment removal programs.
It said disciplinary action is taken in case involvement of officials is found.
‘DDA should play pro-active role in maintenance, services of flats’
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) should play a pro-active role and undertake physical verification of maintenance of EWS houses in all zones of Delhi. This recommendation was made by the standing committee on the working of the DDA.
The committee noted that DDA houses were found in dilapidated conditions during a local study visit to a sector in Dwarka. It was also seen that basic services for the inhabitants were very poor, and designated areas for parks were used for dumping waste.
When enquired, it said responsibility for poor maintenance lay with the municipal corporations and that the DDA has no role to play once services are transferred to the civic agencies.
The DDA replied that services of all colonies have been transferred to local bodies like the municipal corporations, Delhi Jal Board, the Public Works Department and discoms for maintenance after completion of services.
“But the core issue of poor basic services in DDA flats remain unresolved. The committee feels that the only way to resolve these issues is by the way of proactive role by the DDA,” the committee said. It was happy to note that the DDA is working out to frame a policy for completing civil and electrical services maintenance for 30 years.
“As far as maintenance of EWS houses is concerned, the DDA is working towards framing a policy for complete civil and electrical services maintenance for 30 years,” said the land agency.
However, the committee desired that the Ministry of Urban Development finalise and operationalise this policy for complete civil and electrical services before the next financial year.
