Plots divided before 2007 to be made legal in East Delhi

In a move that will benefit lakhs of residents of Trans Yamuna region, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation has decided to regularise subdivided plots built before February 2007. HT reports.

In a move that will benefit lakhs of residents of Trans Yamuna region, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation has decided to regularise subdivided plots built before February 2007.

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Subdivided buildings are properties that have been divided into two or more parts without taking permission from the corporation. It usually happens when a family decides to split up their plot of land for expansion or distribution between different members.

Plots with a minimum size of 32 square metres in regularised colonies will be eligible for the legitimate tag.

The resolution was passed at the standing committee meeting on Thursday after councillors raised the issue of unauthorised construction in the area. According to them, a lot of illegal construction was taking place due to the non-regularisation of subdivided plots.

"So far, plots that were divided before 1977 were being regularised. Plots that were sub-divided later could not get their building plans sanctioned and so unauthorised construction in connivance with corporation officials and the police was mushrooming,"said standing committee chairman Mahek Singh.

As a result, several buildings in the area were found to be structurally unsafe with a few even collapsing, one of them being the Lalita Park building that collapsed and killed 70 persons in November 2010.

The corporation hopes to bring down such cases and also generate revenue amounting to crores of rupees. According to the councillors, there are 200 unauthorised regularised colonies in East Delhi that have thousands of sub-divided buildings.

For the regularisation of such plots, the EDMC will charge a fee. "The fee will depend upon the size of the plots and its location," added Mahek Singh. Property owners will be able to apply in a few months time after the House passes the proposal and sets up offices for expediting the applications.