Ownership rights for colony residents

Ahead of the Assembly elections, the Delhi government is planning to give ownership rights to people living in various labour colonies across the city. The move will benefit thousands of people residing in these colonies.

Ahead of the Assembly elections, the Delhi government is planning to give ownership rights to people living in various labour colonies across the city. The move will benefit thousands of people residing in these colonies.

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According to the labour department, a proposal in this regard will be put up before the Delhi cabinet for approval. A total of four colonies in Nehru Nagar, Giri Nagar, Moti Nagar and Vishwakarma that have 4,844 houses in total will be made freehold.

“These flats were originally allotted on the basis of hire and purchase. In 1978, other people were allowed to purchase them too. However, even now 1,971 flats are on leasehold. We want those workers to be given ownership rights just as it was done in the case of resettlement colonies,” said AK Walia, labour department minister.

“As this was a central government scheme, the proposal will be sent to the Centre for a final go ahead after the cabinet approves it,” added Walia.

Officials said residents of one-room flats will not only have to shell out the cost of the flat but in case there is any encroachment carried out by them, that part will also have to be regularised. For this, prevailing circle rates will be taken into account.

“If there are any arrears, or if people have constructed additional room or encroached upon public land by covering their balcony, all those will be taken into account,” said a senior Delhi government official.

While there are 2,664 flats in Karampura, there are 852 in Viswhakarma, 1,184 in Giri Nagar and approximately 1,000 in Nehru Nagar. These flats are either occupied by the original allottees, or those who purchased it from the original allottees or, in some cases, people who have encroached upon it. These flats were originally meant to accommodate industrial workers.