Aadhar number may be made must for DDA flats

It may soon become mandatory to have an Aadhar number to get a Delhi Development Authority (DDA) flat or plot. The proposal has come from the authority's vigilance department and the plan is being discussed. Sidhartha Roy reports.

It may soon become mandatory to have an Aadhar number to get a Delhi Development Authority (DDA) flat or plot. The proposal has come from the authority's vigilance department and the plan is being discussed.

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DDA's chief vigilance officer Sunil Kumar Gulati had recently written to the authority's vice-chairman, suggesting the use of the unique identification (UID) number during allotment to bring in more transparency in the process.

The Delhi government has already made UID numbers (or at least the enrolment) mandatory for accessing most services such as getting marriage certificates, registering properties, getting a pension card to a LPG connection. DDA may soon follow suit.

The use of Aadhar number is expected to deter property dealers, who submit and finance hundreds of forms in the name of other applicants, sometimes even without their knowledge.

If any of these applications are successful in the draw of lots, the property dealer reaps the benefits by selling the property at high rates.

Gulati said that making Aadhar number mandatory would ensure that no individual misuses the allotment process and only genuine applicants get DDA flats that are significantly subsidized and provided at prices much below prevalent market rates. "If cash transfer can be done through Aadhar, we can also allot flats," he said.