: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is planning to expedite its policy of regularising properties in the Capital that have to pay chulha tax.
The tax is paid by those who live in the fringes of the city, such as Pillanji, Todapur, Dasghara, Malcha, etc. While roughly 20,000 families have been living in these areas for more than a century, they don’t enjoy ownership rights because at the time of the shifting of the Capital from Kolkata (then Calcutta) to Delhi in 1911, their lands were acquired by the British government.
In 2014, DDA decided to do away with the tax, and give freehold rights to the residents after their properties were regularised. A policy was brought in place, but it is yet to be implemented satisfactorily.
A meeting was held at DDA recently to expedite the process of implementation of the policy, and directions have been issued to the different departments of the authority by its Vice-Chairman Arun Goel.
The Land Management Department of DDA has been asked to provide records of eligible chulha taxpayers and unauthorised occupants in these areas for verification of the genuineness of those who have applied for regularisation. To obviate chances of further delay, the department has been asked to calculate initial dues as per the formula provided in the policy, instead of referring these to the Finance Department. The Accounts Branch has been asked to clear files within seven days after the applications are reviewed and verified.
DDA is expecting a large number of applications, which is why an adequate number of senior officials will be deployed for verification of the status of properties.
As of now, DDA has received just 74 applications for regularisation, which it plans to finalise within 30 working days to “generate confidence in the villagers to come forward for applying for regularisation”.
DDA also plans to give wider publicity to the policy, and senior officials have been asked to visit these villages to disseminate the benefits of the scheme among residents.
