Land pooling policy further simplified

New Delhi: Land pooling in Delhi, which is expected to meet the rising demand for residential and other needs besides stimulating economic growth, is now further simplified for speedy execution. Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will now act more as a facilitator and planner as against the role initially envisaged for it as a part of simplification of execution of land pooling policy.

Union minister of housing and urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri and lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal met in Nirman Bhawan and discussed various aspects of the land pooling policy and decided to make some changes in it. Durga Shanker Mishra, the secretary (HUA) and vice-chairman of DDA, also participated in the discussion.

Originally, land pooled under the policy was to be transferred to DDA, which was to act as the developer entity (DE) and undertake further sectoral planning and development of infrastructure in the pooled land. Mr Puri and Mr Baijal, on Thursday, decided to do away with this requirement. The land title would now continue to be with the original land owners.

The DDA was asked to immediately initiate spatial and services planning for the five zones covered under the land pooling policy so that it could be given immediate effect after finalisation of the new regulations.

While both the minister and the LG expressed concern over delay in implementing the land pooling policy, Mr Puri thanked Mr Baijal for his initiative in having declared 89 villages as urban areas under the Delhi Municipal Act, 1957, and 95 villages as development areas as required for the implementation of land pooling. The DDA was directed to formulate necessary regulations under the policy in accordance with the changes in a month’s time. It was also asked to ensure a single-window clearance mechanism to accord necessary approvals for speedy implementation.