The Hindu : New Delhi News : New measures to save Delhi from sealing

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Friday, May 16, 2008
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New Delhi

New measures to save Delhi from sealing

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Centre comes up with fresh amendments to Master Plan waiving many norms

– PHOTO: SANDEEP SAXENA

NOW SEALING ON SEALING?: With the proposed new amendments to the Master Plan for Delhi in place, reminders of sealing operations in the Capital like this one here will be a thing of the past.

NEW DELHI: In a “please all” move aimed at stopping the ongoing sealing drive in the Capital by allowing various relaxations in building norms, the Union Urban Development Ministry has now decided to allow commercial activity in Delhi Development Authority (DDA) flats and on ground floors of buildings on notified roads, permit projections or “chhajjas” of up to one metre in plotted houses, and grant a year’s time to buildings over 15 metres high to voluntarily remove extra constructions over this specified height.

A public notice detailing all these amendments to the new Master Plan for Delhi-2021 was issued by the Delhi Development Authority on Thursday.

Union Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken said the decision to further amend the Master Plan had been taken in view of “ground realities” and the needs of the Capital’s citizens. The Ministry, he added, had decided to amend the Master Plan following demands from residents’ welfare associations, public representatives, professionals and traders’ associations.

About the main changes that have been effected, he said DDA flats on mixed land use streets would now be allowed to have mixed use activity in the form of retail shops and offices on the entire ground floor. Similarly DDA flats on commercial streets would be allowed to carry out activities allowed so far only in ``local shopping centres”. In terms of permitted activities, the amendment would bring such DDA flats at par with plotted development areas falling on mixed use and commercial streets.

Projections would be allowed up to one metre on a plot size of up to 175 square metres provided they are three metres above the ground. The rationale is that such projections are essential as they are need-based extensions that serve compulsory purposes like bathroom, kitchen and even living area. Upon notification of these amendments, the local bodies would be required to carry out a survey of all such “chhajjas” within two months. The current ten-fold penalty on registration and payment of conversion charges on mixed use and commercial establishments has also been waived and now it can be done up to 60 days after notification of these amendments.

Yielding to yet another demand, the Ministry has decided that in addition to existing retail shops that were allowed so far on the ground floor and in the basement of premises on commercial streets, retail shops, offices and other activities would be permitted on the ground floor and in the basement on all mixed use streets. Further, in case of buildings exceeding 15 metres in height in the so-called Special Areas such as Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh, Walled City, Paharganj and Sadar Bazar, the owners or occupants would be given a year up to June 30, 2009, to voluntarily remove the extra constructions.

In the meantime, the local bodies would not take any punitive action against such buildings.

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