The frenzy about the Delhi Development Authority’s latest housing scheme not withstanding, the civic body is yet to allot residential plots to successful allottees for “Residential Flats Registration Scheme-1985 for Slum areas and others”, a scheme that was floated way back in 1985.
Out of the more than 27,000 successful allottees, only 5,000-odd were allotted plots of land or flats and, shockingly, the last allotment was made in 2004. The scheme is still officially active.
Incidentally, the DDA has come up with maximum number of flats for people from the economically-weaker section (EWS) in its current scheme, ear-marking more than 11,000 one-room flats/tenements and Janata flats.
One such successful allottee, Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Trilokpuri, has lost hope.
“I have been waiting for that flat to be allotted all these years. After I succeeded in the draw of lots, I also paid up a booking amount of `3,000,” said Mr Kumar, adding that the only response he gets from authorities is “you are in queue”.
Having lost hope of getting possession of the elusive flat, Mr Kumar has already applied twice in the other housing schemes of the DDA without success. “I have bought the form this time too. But, it may again be all in vain,” he said, adding that he also knows at least half-a-dozen such successful allottees, who are still waiting.
The government’s response on the seemingly interminable delay has been the same.
In a reply to a question on the issue in Lok Sabha, Union minister of state for urban development Saugata Roy told Lok Sabha last week that “due to non-availability of land, the allotment of flats has been delayed and a precise time-frame for allotment to the remaining registrants cannot be indicated at this stage in view of the issues involved in obtaining land.”
Out of the 27,693 registrants, 5,662 have been covered till date, the government said. The last allotment was made on January 12, 2004.
It was only recently that the slum and JJ department of the DDA was transferred to the Delhi government with a new name, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board.