DDA focuses on old buildings post tremors

With Delhi still talking about the tremors it felt few days ago, the Delhi Development Authority is now planning to redevelop some of the old buildings which are not earthquake-proof.

DDA Vice-Chairman Balvinder Kumar said on Wednesday that the old buildings are a challenge and the land agency is mulling redeveloping them.

He was critical of people carrying out illegal constructions and also the civic agencies for turning a blind eye to them.

Mr Kumar said has received a request from a group of 20 DDA employees seeking permission to travel to Nepal and help in the relief operations. The Vice-Chairman was highly appreciative of the idea.

Mr Kumar said, “The earthquake in Nepal has led to reports on how most of Delhi is unauthorised and most of the construction is without any plan.”

“Now there is need for a redevelopment policy which encourages people to demolish their unauthorised construction and redevelop it,” he said.

“70 to 80 percent buildings violate norms”

The Centre for Science and Environment in its report, released on Monday, said that 70 to 80 per cent buildings in Delhi violate regulations and because the process of seeking approval for the plan is tedious, many constructions are without any sanction.

The DDA Vice-Chairman said “the way to make the city safe is to redevelop unauthorised constructions. Such a thing is possible only with a good policy.”