NEW DELHI: Set to take ahead the reforms in urban development of the Capital, the Union Urban Development Ministry is understood to have finalised a draft Bill for repealing the Delhi Development Act, 1957, paving the way for major re-structuring of the Authority and ending its monopoly over development of land. In another major decision, the Ministry has decided to set up the Delhi Urban Regulatory Authority to regulate all construction activity in the city in future.

According to highly placed sources, the final draft of the Bill has been put on the drawing board and after its approval at the highest level it would be ready for introduction in Parliament for repealing the 1957 Act that has become outdated and redundant. It is learnt that the Bill will take away the housing activity from DDA and clear the decks for the entry of private developers in construction activities including housing and infrastructure in a big way. DDA will be left with only developing housing for the poor sections of society and play the role of a moderator in the whole scenario.

"The Bill also contains a proposal to take away the enforcement powers from DDA as it had failed to carry out its duties effectively on this front in the past and a new agency will be formed that would also have powers for enforcement in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi area,'' said a senior official.

However, officials said a lot of loose ends need to be tied up before the Bill is given a final shape but were hopeful that it would be introduced for passage in Parliament during the winter session so that a new Act comes into force by early next year. It was also felt that since DDA was busy preparing the Master Plan for Delhi-2021, it would not be feasible to disturb the present set-up and delay the re-structuring for a few months. It is learnt that the Delhi Government would also be given an active role in the new structure of development and planning.

Similarly, the Government has also finalised the draft for setting up the Delhi Urban Regulatory Authority as suggested by the Tejinder Khanna Committee. It would have powers under the DDA Act as well as the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act. The new body is likely to be empowered to decide cases of regularisation of unauthorised construction beyond normal margins of compounding and to permit changes in land use, wherever considered justified, on imposition of suitable conditions.

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