New Delhi: The ruling BJP in MCD on Friday
requested new Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath to
seriously look into the problems being faced by people in
unauthorised colonies, unauthorised-regularised colonies and
rural and urban villages in the city.
Among the measures needed to be taken is increasing the
floor area ratio (FAR) in old residential properties to 100
per cent coverage and necessary amendments in the Delhi
Municipal Corporation Act to exempt people in such areas from
house tax, Leader of MCD House Subhash Arya told reporters.
He said former Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy
had recently announced that the Centre gave its nod to a law
that allows 100 per cent construction and sub-division of
plots up to 250 square metres in unauthorised colonies.
"What was the purpose behind Reddy`s announcements when
unauthorised colonies are not yet regularised and sub-division
of plots is not allowed legally there?" Arya asked.
"Unless the floor area ratio in old residential
properties be increased to 100 per cent coverage, additional
construction in those properties cannot be protected from
demolition," he said. "Providing relief in terms of
sub-division of plots without increasing the FAR is baseless."
He accused the Central and Delhi governments of taking
only "half-hearted measures" so far in this regard.
The BJP leader demanded that the Urban Development
Ministry should order DDA that with immediate effect that it
should cancel the earlier FAR in old properties up to 300 sq
yards and allow 100 per cent ground coverage with 15 metre
height and FAR of 400 sq yards.
"Unless these steps are taken, sword of demolition will
continue to hang over the heads of Delhiites," he said.
Arya said while Congress has met the Lt Governor to press
that property tax should not be collected from unauthorised
colonies, it did place a demand to Central and Delhi
governments for necessary amendments in the DMC Act.
The BJP wants residential properties in unauthorised
colonies as well as rural and urban villages to get exempted
from property tax, he said.
PTI
