DDA files affidavit in SC for changes in Master Plan
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Monday filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court about proposed amendments to the Master Plan for Delhi (MPD) 2021 in order to bring relief to the traders from ongoing sealing drive in the national Capital. On the last date of hearing, the Supreme Court had stayed any further progress by authorities to amend Delhi Master Plan 2021.
Announcing this Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday ruled out bringing in an Ordinance to stop sealing, saying such recourse is not possible when Parliament is in session.
Puri said the Centre and the DDA are well within their power to make amendments to the Master Plan, 2021.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also called an all-party meeting on March 13 at his residence to find a solution from sealing. Traders have called "Delhi Bandh’ on Tuesday in protest against ongoing sealing drive. AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh has gave a notice in the Rajya Sabha over short duration discussion on sealing in Delhi.
The Master Plan 2021 is a blueprint for urban planning and expansion in the metropolis to ensure overall development.
As per amendments proposed to the Master Plan, the DDA has approved uniform floor area ratio (FAR) of 350 for shop-cum-residential plots and complexes at par with residential plots, use of basement to run businesses, and rationalisation of conversion charges. The FAR is the ratio of a building’s total floor area (gross floor area) to the size of the piece of land on which it is built.
The amendments also include shifting of pubs, clubs and restaurants from residential areas and augmentation of infrastructure services such as water and sewage by concerned service providing agencies. It also proposes doing away with parking charges for small shops of 20 square metre and less. It also proposes to notify 351 mixed roads for commercial /mixed use under MPD.
The amendments also contain provision to increase of power load from five KW to 11 KW in household/non polluting service industries in residential areas, and permission of godown clusters in non conforming areas, synchronization and fixation of charges based on locality defined as per circle rates.
In the absence of any land for the parking in the vicinity, it is proposed for declaration of such complex area / street as "Pedestrian shopping street / areas. Common parking facility shall be provided for plots up to 300 sqm and on plots above 300 sqm the parking shall be provided within the plot.
The outdoor units of air-conditioning shall be placed on the roof top only and shall not be allowed in the rear side of the plot/public land", the amendments said.
"In order to remove disparity and differential norms, all the activities being carried out in the residential areas in the form of mixed use, shop-cum-residence, commercial activities (LSC/CSC) are brought at par with the uniform norms as for residential plotted development Master Plan for Delhi - 2021," the affidavit said.
Meanwhile, addressing the media along with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, the Minister blamed the previous Governments in Delhi and the Centre for the ongoing sealing drive in Delhi. Puri said the notification will be issued after permission from the Supreme Court on this issue.
The amendments have been finalised after deliberations with the traders, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and other stake-holders.
Baijal explained that as far as he understands, the nature of the current actions is being undertaken in areas not covered under Special Provisions Act. The areas include misuse of the area in the stilt meant for parking; encroachment and misuse on the Government land such as street, lane, parks, misuse and encroachment of forest land/ridge land and unauthorised construction and encroachment not covered under Special Provision Act.