New Delhi Development Authority policy to check graft

New Delhi: In a bid to streamline work and break down the corrupt builder-police-officials nexus, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has made it clear that no building permit will be required for minor construction works like re-roofing and cladding in the national capital.

Also to attract investments into the country, the authority has reduced the limit of built-up area for foreign direct investment (FDI) from Rs 50,000 sqm to Rs 20,000 sqm. The DDA has also issued a notification to set up an environmental cell at local authority level to support compliance and monitoring of environmental conditions in the buildings.

In a recent notification, the DDA has come up with radical amendments in building bylaws. To bring in more transparency, the authority has decided that the procedure and documentation for construction at residential plots up to 105 sqm in size will be done through as per “Saral” scheme.

“For residential plots up to 105 sqm in size forming a part of approved layout/ special areas/unauthoris-ed/regularised colony/vi-llage abadis/lal dora/extended lal dora resettlement colonies and slum and JJ cluster/Rehabilitation Colonies, excluding those within LBZ, the procedure and documentation shall be as per Saral scheme,” the notification said. The scheme has been launched to facilitate the owners of small-sized plots. Significantly, the moment the owners submit their building plans prepared by an architect to the concerned local bodies along with the requisite fee, other charges, drawings and documents before commencement of the construction and the submission itself shall be deemed sanction.

Hence, such persons may not have to wait for processes in the local bodies to start construction works.

The authority has stated that no notice and building permit will be required for addition or alterations which do not otherwise violate any provisions regarding building requirements, structural stability, fire safety requirements and involve no change to the cubic contents or to the built up area of the building, as defined in bylaws.

The objective is to make the process simplified and streamlined to ensure ease in getting the approvals for building permit within stipulated time.