DDA fails to check unauthorised constructions

Though DDA carries out action against unauthorised constructions, their pace leave much to be desired.

The Supreme Court might have come down heavily on the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for failing to check rampant unauthorised construction in the Capital. But the city's apex planning agency—Delhi Development Authority—is no better.

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Though the agency carries out action against unauthorised construction that have mushroomed in areas under its jurisdiction from time to time, the pace at which these actions are carried out leave much to be desired.

A look at the Action Taken Report prepared by DDA for the month of September 2006—which has already been sent to the Union Urban development Ministry—gives the true picture.

Of the 245 cases that DDA's Land Management department booked for unauthorised construction, the agency managed to take action in just 25 cases.
Of these in 13 cases the agency took action to remove unauthorized construction on government land.

The agency managed to remove just 48 structures—including temporary and boundary walls and managed to reclaim 4.46 acre of land.

DDA's housing department is no better. While the agency booked 49 cases of violations, it managed to take action in 27 cases.

The Delhi High Court had on January 18 directed that along with MCD even the DDA should make a list of all unauthorized constructions in its areas and start action against them. It had also directed the DDA to put the entire list on its website.

Since the directions came through, DDA has not only created a website but also set up a control room to register and monitor complaints related to unauthorized constructions.