DDA announces waiver of conversion charge

New Delhi: In a major sop ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Thursday announced a waiver of conversion charges in 100 major markets in the nation capital.

Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly and member of DDA Vijender Gupta said that shop-cum-residence plots, complexes, or shop plots have been exempted from paying any conversion charges.

Some of the prominent markets, such as G.K-II M Block Market, Defence Colony Market, Sunder Nagar Market, and about 100 such markets fall in this category.  

Mr Gupta pointed out that these markets were designated as local shopping centers (LSCs) and have been auctioned as purely commercial on premium rates and the lease deed in such cases also specifies the use of property only for commercial use of the same.

In such shop plots, residential use was permitted besides other commercial uses. Mr Gupta informed that the decision was taken in DDA board meeting chaired by lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal.

According to Mr Gupta, the DDA has also approved major amendments providing relief to household industrial units in residential areas and it will be applicable to both existing and new units.

“The approved amendments would lead to cut in red-tapism as they would do away with statutory clearances from labour and industries department as well as the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to household industrial units in residential areas,” Mr Gupta added.

Mr Gupta demanded scrapping of Delhi government’s high power committee to which all applications for giving license to household industries in residential areas are pending. He said that it is a major stumbling block and municipal corporations should be fully empowered to give license to these industries.  

“The authority has also approved the final proposal for amalgamation of two plots upto 200 square meters as compared to 64 square meters as existing in the Master Plan. It will facilitate housing activity,” he added.