DDA to begin surveying societies for their redevelopment – Goel
Chief Guest Nirmala Sitharaman lends support to resident
New Delhi, July 14, 2019: Delhi’s First Mahasammelan for Group Housing
Societies was held today under the presidency of Rajya Sabha MP and former BJP
Delhi President Vijay Goel at Talkatora stadium. Union Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman bestowed the Mahasammelan with her presence as Chief Guest. The
Mahasammelan was organised by the Federations of the Group Housing Societies
to discuss and address their various issues, including redevelopment. The
Mahasammelan also featured welcoming the pro-development, poor-friendly
2019 Budget which has laid the foundation for New India. BJP National Vice
President Shyam Jaju and MP R K Sinha, Parvesh Verma, Ramesh Bidhuri,
Meenakshi Lekhi, and Hansraj Hans were among the dignitaries who addressed
the gathering.
Addressing the gathering of resident and members of the several housing
societies of Delhi, Goel said that post his meeting with Lt. Governor, Anil Baijal
had ordered the DDA to begin the survey of all Group Housing Societies in order
to amend the policies concerning their redevelopment. The preparatory survey
would entail determine the present conditions of societies and flats, plot size,
status of civic amenities, and issues faced in converting plots to freehold among
other things. More than 10 lakh residents live in 1200 Group Housing societies
which demand redevelopment as their conditions have become deplorable in the
past forty years.
Goel said the entire redevelopment would be carried out on the self-sustainable
model and not a single penny would be charged to the residents. It was decided in
meeting with Lt. Governor that the societies would undergo redevelopment if at
least 66% of the members demand it. Once decided, the residents would shift to
rental homes until the new buildings come up. Since there is no height restriction
and Master Plan Delhi-2021 permits additional, incentivized FAR, a 4-storey
building would be replaced with 10-storey one. The entire project cost including
the rental assistance to residents would be covered by the sale of additional flats.
Goel said the redevelopment of housing societies is another opportunity to turn
Delhi into smart cities as the new flats would be equipped with parking facilities,
community centres, water harvesting systems and all other amenities that the
current flats lack today. Goel encouraged the residents to fight for their issues
and asked them to pay taxes only for the services they receive.
Sharing the highlights of the 2019 General Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman said the government aims to provide a roof to every Indian before
2022 and thus to provide affordable housing to poor and middle class, her maiden
budget provides tax rebate of Rs 3.5 lakh on home loans of up to Rs 45 lakh.
Lampooning the Kejriwal government for not doing any work on the Yamuna,
Sitharaman said the waterfront project could have become the biggest attraction
of the city. She said her ministry would provide all support to the housing
societies in resolving their issues.
Mounting a sharp attack on Delhi Chief Minister, Goel said these societies can be
redeveloped but strong decisions are expected from the Kejriwal government
which has failed to deliver on all fronts. Goel warned the government officers to
act immediately on the issue of redevelopment, else a campaign would be
launched against them.
