Seeking change in DDA role, govt sets up panel to review law
3 March 2015 6:27 AM IST
With the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) mostly playing the role of a ‘developer’, the Urban Development Ministry has proposed to reassess its role in the context of the diverse and emerging developmental needs in the national Capital.
Thus, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has set up a 14-member committee to revisit and redraft the Delhi Development Act, 1957, under which the body was set up. The committee, which is to be headed by former DDA vice- chairman Madhukar Gupta, will assess the adequacy of the provisions of the Delhi Development Act and the role of the authority thereunder and suggest measures to be taken for it to embrace the role of a facilitator and regulator.
The panel will hold discussions with all stakeholders so as to find the best possible urban planning and development strategies which would enable Delhi to emerge as a world-class city through enhanced investments. The committee has been given three-months’ time to submit the draft Act and Rules for the consideration of the government.
The members of the committee include former Commissioners of Land Acquisition of DDA, SK Tandon and Sharda Prasad, former Commissioner of Land Acquisition of DDA, KP Laxman Rao, former Member (Finance) of DDA and AK Jain, former Commissioner of Planning of DDA.
The ex-officio members of the committee include Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary in the Urban Development Ministry, Chief Planner of Town and Country Planning Organisation, Secretary of Delhi Urban Arts Commission, Chairman of NDMC, municipal commissioners of the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi and Secretary, DDA, who will also be the Member-Secretary of the Committee.
The chairman of the committee has been authorised to co- opt two other members as experts from outside the government to assist it in its work.
According to Section 6 of the DDA Act, the body “shall promote and secure the development of Delhi according to plan and, for that purpose, the Authority shall have the power to acquire, hold, manage and dispose of land and other property, to carry out building, engineering, mining and other operations”.
The Act also stipulates that it would execute works related to supply of water and electricity, disposal of sewage and other services and amenities and generally to do anything necessary or expedient for purposes of such development and for purposes incidental thereto.
Section 2(d) of the 1957 Act defines ‘development’ as the “carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under land or the making of any material change in any building or land”. Section 3(2) of the said Act defined DDA as the “Authority with the power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable”, etc.
Thus, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has set up a 14-member committee to revisit and redraft the Delhi Development Act, 1957, under which the body was set up. The committee, which is to be headed by former DDA vice- chairman Madhukar Gupta, will assess the adequacy of the provisions of the Delhi Development Act and the role of the authority thereunder and suggest measures to be taken for it to embrace the role of a facilitator and regulator.
The panel will hold discussions with all stakeholders so as to find the best possible urban planning and development strategies which would enable Delhi to emerge as a world-class city through enhanced investments. The committee has been given three-months’ time to submit the draft Act and Rules for the consideration of the government.
The members of the committee include former Commissioners of Land Acquisition of DDA, SK Tandon and Sharda Prasad, former Commissioner of Land Acquisition of DDA, KP Laxman Rao, former Member (Finance) of DDA and AK Jain, former Commissioner of Planning of DDA.
The ex-officio members of the committee include Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary in the Urban Development Ministry, Chief Planner of Town and Country Planning Organisation, Secretary of Delhi Urban Arts Commission, Chairman of NDMC, municipal commissioners of the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi and Secretary, DDA, who will also be the Member-Secretary of the Committee.
The chairman of the committee has been authorised to co- opt two other members as experts from outside the government to assist it in its work.
According to Section 6 of the DDA Act, the body “shall promote and secure the development of Delhi according to plan and, for that purpose, the Authority shall have the power to acquire, hold, manage and dispose of land and other property, to carry out building, engineering, mining and other operations”.
The Act also stipulates that it would execute works related to supply of water and electricity, disposal of sewage and other services and amenities and generally to do anything necessary or expedient for purposes of such development and for purposes incidental thereto.
Section 2(d) of the 1957 Act defines ‘development’ as the “carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under land or the making of any material change in any building or land”. Section 3(2) of the said Act defined DDA as the “Authority with the power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable”, etc.
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