DDA's Land Pooling Push Faces Resistance

24 Oct 2023 CW Team

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is facing challenges in its efforts to encourage landowners to participate in the city's land pooling policy, which aims to develop 105 villages divided into five zones. Under the policy, landowners are required to form consortiums to pool their land for development, with the goal of bringing modern amenities to these areas, including affordable housing, shopping centers, transportation systems, schools, parks, and hospitals. DDA recently reinvited applications from landowners to join the land pooling initiative, providing a three-month window from August 21 to November 18 for registration. However, as of October 7, not a single application has been received for consortium formation. Villagers argue that without the passing of proposed amendments in the Delhi Development Act, 1957, and the notification of the Delhi Master Plan, 2041, the land pooling policy cannot be effectively implemented. DDA is planning to hold more camps to motivate participation and has set up a helpdesk at its office complex to assist landowners in submitting their applications. Currently, 24.6 hectares of land have been registered on the land pooling portal, with provisional and final notices issued for consortium formation in several sectors. The delay in approving amendments and the notification of MPD, 2041, has raised concerns among villagers, and they stress that issues related to land contiguity and joint ownership will persist until the necessary legislative changes are made. The proposed amendments to the DD Act, 1957, aim to provide greater flexibility and enhanced facilitation for policy implementation.

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