NEW DELHI: The Delhi Development Authority these days is discussing the issue of auctioning its properties -- at least those meant for the higher income group (HIG) - taking its cue from Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy who in a recent presentation had emphasised the need to ensure that allotment rates are close to market rates so that there is no black-marketing of allotted properties.

According to a senior DDA official, serious brainstorming is under way on the new idea but nothing concrete has emerged thus far. Following Mr. Reddy's remarks, plans are being drawn up to raise the prices of the properties to be allotted so that speculation and black-marketing come to an end and only those desirous of having them for their personal use benefit from the schemes.

"Though it is very difficult to conduct auction of 3,000 to 4,000 properties every year, especially since in DDA flats the issue of eligibility is of great importance, efforts are being made to bring the allotment price of properties as close to the market price as possible,'' the official said, adding that the scheme, if and when implemented, would definitely keep the interests of the lower income groups in mind as they may not be in a position to shell out the market price for the flats.

It is due to the change in plans that during the whole of 2005 the DDA did not come out with a single mega housing scheme for the middle and higher income groups. It only allotted flats to the registrants of its long-pending schemes during the year.

This was in marked contrast to 2004 when the Authority had floated the Festival Housing Scheme under which as many as 2506 flats were allotted in January 2005. This scheme had attracted 164,095 applications and the draw was conducted with the help of computers.

Under the scheme, flats of 24 types were allotted. During the draw it was also announced that there would be no waiting list and the flats vacated will be put up for allotment in the next scheme due to come up in April 2005. However, during the whole of the year no other scheme was floated.

Senior DDA officials insist the new scheme would now only be floated when a final decision is taken on how to dispose of the higher income group flats.

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