The Hindu : New Delhi News : Hectic construction activity in industrial areas

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 08, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

Hectic construction activity in industrial areas

Special Correspondent

Delhi Government notice to owners of relocated industries to shift to new sites or have their plots cancelled

Allottees given 45 days to shift their units from the city’s non-conforming and residential areas
Labour rates for construction and the cost of building material have increased substantially

NEW DELHI: Labour rates and costs of building material have shot up in the Capital’s Bawana, Narela, Badli, Patparganj and Jhilmil industrial areas with construction activity picking up there following a Delhi Government notice asking all the allottees of plots under the relocation of industries scheme to shift to the area or face forfeiture of plots.

Government sources said in mid-September the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation had issued notices giving 45 days to these allottees to shift their units from the city’s non-conforming and residential areas to the allotted sites in the Bawana, Narela, Badli, Patparganj and Jhilmil industrial areas.

It had stated that the process of giving possession of plots to these units had begun in 2001 with the direction to close their industrial units at the old sites and shift to the new sites after construction of new factory buildings thereon. But while 16,300 plots had been allotted at all these sites put together, only about half the allottees went ahead with construction of new factories.

In the wake of the notice now construction activity has picked up rapidly in these areas as the allottees fear losing their plots which had been allotted to them at Rs.4,200 per square metre whereas the market rate is over ten times more. While officially these plots cannot be sold, sources said transfers are effected through recourse to general power of attorney registered in Punjab.

According to a senior Delhi Government official, construction activity on about 3,000 plots has started following the notice and due to such hectic pace of construction the labour rates for construction have almost doubled from about Rs.40 per square foot to Rs.80 per square foot while the cost of material such as sand, cement and iron has gone up by 10 per cent to 20 per cent.

The last date for compliance with the notice was October 31. According to a member of an entrepreneurship association, the allottees now want the Government to extend the date. Since the Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly V. K. Malhotra had also raised this demand, it is likely that a lenient view would be taken of the violations.

But on the other hand those in the waiting list for the plots are happy with the issuance of notice as now there is a chance for them to be allotted a plot provided the cancellations start.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi