Investors in DDA’s land pooling divided over proposed amendments

‘Existing policy not attractive enough, amendments will create legal obstacles’

With the proposed amendments to the Delhi Development Act, 1957, which include making land pooling mandatory, now up for public suggestions, those who invested in the Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) policy remain a divided bunch.

For Satish Aggarwal, who invested in the land pooling policy (LPP) after it was first notified in 2013, the proposed amendments come as “a sigh of relief”. Mr. Aggarwal is confident that these amendments will eliminate roadblocks faced by the DDA in implementing the policy.

One of the proposed amendments will make pooling of land mandatory for the remaining landowners if the minimum participation rate of 70% landowners is achieved, while the other amendment grants powers to the Centre to declare land pooling mandatory, even if the minimum criteria — 70% participation and 70% contiguity — are not achieved.

J. Ganesh, a tax consultant who purchased 16 acres in Zone-L in 2014, says the proposed amendments will not remove roadblocks faced by the agency in implementing the policy.

“This move will result in legal battles in future because those who do not wish to participate in the policy won’t agree to the mandatory pooling of their land. The policy, which was revamped and notified in 2018, is simply not attractive enough,” says Mr. Ganesh.

Another individual, who purchased land in Zone-N, echoed Mr. Ganesh’s view.

He also said that the DDA’s move to issue conditional notices to form consortiums of landowners has received a lukewarm response so far.