Lakhs of residents in the city’s refugee colonies, which were set up after Independence, can now get building plans sanctioned by the local civic body, municipal officials said on Thursday.
The Capital’s municipal corporations can clear plans for construction in the 46 refugee colonies, making way for new buildings to replace the 60-year-old quarters. Between 1955 and 1965, the flats were given on lease to families who arrived in Delhi after Partition. Two separate units, on the ground and first floors, were made on plots of 107 to 120 yards.
Now these flats are being converted to freehold by the Land and Development Office and the civic bodies are allowing new buildings of up to five floors (four floors plus stilt parking) to come up on the plots.
This was announced by South Delhi Municipal Corporation Leader of the House Subhash Arya, who had been working on this for years. Mr. Arya was five years old when his family came to Delhi in 1947 from Pakistan. As he announced the move that will benefit 15,000 flat-owners, Mr. Arya broke down in tears.
“So many people have suffered for so long because of this. Somebody wrote to me asking for his flat to be converted to freehold in his lifetime. But unfortunately he passed away recently. Another family has been forced to live on rent as their house was demolished 13 years ago and they couldn’t rebuild,” said Mr. Arya.
At a meeting with the Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu recently, officials from the three municipal bodies were able to get the go-ahead to implement the policy.
“Within 10 days the first such building plans will be passed,” Mr. Arya said. This policy will benefit people in colonies such as Ramesh Nagar, Patel Nagar, Tilak Nagar, Lajpat Nagar and Jungpura. Buildings will be sanctioned with the approval of both the parties – the ground and first floor residents – and the payment of necessary fees.
