Unsuccessful DDA applicants demand money back, quickly

Dhiraj Kataria, a Shalimar Bagh resident, had applied for the Delhi Development Authority's (DDA) housing scheme 2010 to own his dream home.

Dhiraj Kataria, a Shalimar Bagh resident, had applied for the Delhi Development Authority's (DDA) housing scheme 2010 to own his dream home.

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The dream crashed last month when he couldn't make it in the DDA's lucky draw. And to add insult to injury, he hasn't yet got back the registration amount.

The housing scheme of the land development agency offered nearly 16,000 flats, for which 7.53 lakh people had applied.

The applicants had to deposit Rs 1.5 lakh along with the forms (Rs 50,000 for janta flats). While a large number of applicants financed the amount from banks, a sizeable number also deposited their own money.

The draw of lots for the housing scheme was held on April 18 and DDA had promised that the registration money would be refunded by the end of April. Though it has been 20 days since the draw, many applicants who had deposited their own money are yet to get the refund.

"I'm yet to get any money from DDA or information about the likely date by which the refund would be made," Kataria said.

"Not only have I lost out on getting a house in Delhi, I'm losing the interest amount on my money," he said.

Ravi Sareen, a resident of Kalkaji, said DDA should have given a clear date about when the refund would be made.

"I have no idea when DDA will return the money I had deposited while applying for a flat," said Ritesh Diwan of the DDA Flat Applicants Association.

"DDA should give all applicants interest on the delay as our money has been stuck for nearly four months," he said.

DDA spokesperson Neemo Dhar said, "All the refund money has been transferred to banks and the banks will send refund cheques to the applicants through courier."

"The process has already started and there may be some delay in certain cases but everyone will get a refund in the next three days," the spokesperson added.