15

Urban Development Authorities

Urban planning and development, and provision of civic amenities such as water supply, sewerage, and prevention of pollution constitute some of the basic functions of urban local government. But our municipal institutions are alleged to be incapable of performing these functions. The state governments therefore, constitute specialized agencies such as improvement trusts, housing boards, water supply and sewerage boards, and pollution control boards to carry out these functions. The reasons usually advanced for the creation of these urban institutions and specific purpose agencies are that the municipal authorities have neither the necessary administrative machinery nor resources to tackle the problems arising out of rapid urban growth;¹ that the rules and bye-laws of the municipal bodies stand in the way of shouldering responsibilities attached to the developmental activities;² that the municipal corporations and municipal committees are, by and large, centres of inefficiency, corruption and political nepotism; most of these are bankrupt and cannot in any way tackle the big problems;³ that certain activities are so technical and complex that they require concentrated attention and specialized effort,⁴ which the municipal bodies are not in a position to afford, already overburdened as they are with numerous, varied functions. In short, the creation of uni- or multi-functional authorities is justified on the plea of the inefficiency of the local authorities and their being inadequately equipped to perform these tasks.⁵

These urban institutions, dominated as they are by nominations made by the government, are anachronistic in the modern age of democracy and are an eye-sore to the municipal bodies as they have eroded their authority, and more so because the latter contribute substantial amounts to them but have absolutely no control over them. Moreover, even the performance of these specialized agencies has not been up to the mark. Improvement Trusts stress more on development and have failed to bring out necessary improvements in the towns and cities. They have been criticized for grave irregularities in the acquisition of land and allotment of plots in their various schemes and for rampant corruption. The Water Supply and Sewerage Boards have failed to provide basic amenities of potable water and sewerage to all the urban areas within their jurisdiction due to financial stringency and other factors and whenever they have been provided, they have been so defective that they have been declared to be beyond repair and have been dismantled and replaced by new ones, thus causing colossal wastage of crores of public money. The Housing Boards have though provided shelter to hundreds of town dwellers but this touches only a tip of the iceberg. Pollution control Board in its drive to check pollution have taken only punitive measures against defaulters but failed to ensure the installation of pollution control devices in all the industrial establishments.

The provision of multiple specialized agencies gives rise to the problem of overlapping of functions and coordination among them. Housing Development, for example, is the function of three agencies viz, the housing board, the urban estates and the improvement trusts. Similarly, provision of water-supply and sewerage is the responsibility of the municipal bodies and the Improvement Trusts, both of whom are in turn the clientele of Water Supply and Sewerage Board. Under such a dispensation, the citizens have to face tremendous amount of inconvenience in reaching the multiple organizations. The creation of these agencies has diffused and disintegrated the system of urban local government and lowered its prestige and significance. They also suffer from a lack of funds.

The predicaments mentioned above can be overcome by abolishing these institutions and merging them with the concerned municipal institutions. In that case their finances would not only be restored to the civic bodies but they would be provided with technical expertise as well; or these institutions should be put under the unified administrative-control of the city council to achieve coordination; or an urban development authority should be set up to ensure better coordination of various agencies involved in urban development as well as to raise more institutional finance. The first two options are not possible due to the lack of finances and technical expertise available with the local authorities. The third option, viz. the constitution of urban development authorities is therefore more desirable, advisable, practical, and realistic for its advantages of a single agency taking an integrated view of the planning and development of the entire urban area under its control and to be responsible for the provision and management of civic amenities therein. Accordingly, the central government constituted urban development authorities, such as Delhi Development Authority under the Delhi Development Act, 1957, and Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) in 1971. The state governments have also set up state urban development authorities to cater to the development needs of all the cities/towns in the state. Haryana, for example, has set up the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) and Punjab has set up Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) for this purpose. Some states have provided for urban development authorities for individual cities, for instance, the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority in West Bengal, Kannaur Development Authority in Kerala, etc. Recently, District Urban Development Agencies (DUDAs) have also been constituted in some states, for example, in Kerala (in March 1989) and in Punjab (in April 1991). All urban bodies in the district are the members of DUDA under chairmanship of the district collector/deputy commissioner. The idea has been borrowed from the district rural development agencies. One of the chief objectives of DUDA is to coordinate urban development along desired lines.

Organization and Functions of HUDCO, DDA and HUDA

The organization, functions and activities of the three types of urban development authorities, one operating in different parts of the country (HUDCO), the other confined to a particular city only (DDA), and the third, extending its activities to various cities and towns within the territorial jurisdiction of a state (HUDA) are discussed in detail to get an overview of their operations and achievements in the field of urban planning and development, and provision of services, especially to the weaker sections, as follows:

Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO)

For meeting the growing demand for housing, the Planning Commission, in the First Five Year Plan, had recommended the setting up by the central government of agencies to subsidize construction of houses.

Housing and Urban Development Corporation, a techno-financial institution was incorporated on 25 April 1970 as an expression of concern of Government of India for the deteriorating housing scenario in the country and its desire to assist the state authorities for its amelioration. HUDCO’s prime mandate was to improve the housing conditions of the economically weaker sections and to concretize this, it was necessary to ensure that it would essentially have to be low cost, easily available and require minimum skills. Thus, HUDCO’s objectives were outlined to finance and undertake: (i) Housing and Urban Development programmes all over the country; (ii) the setting up of new or satellite towns either wholly or in part; and (iii) the setting up of building material industries.

HUDCO’s Programmes and Activities

1. Housing Programmes for the Poor: Keeping in view the acute housing shortage in the country, HUDCO has undertaken comprehensive housing programmes for the poor. It has implemented a differential interest rate policy for various categories of households with special emphasis on the economically weaker sections (EWS) and lower income group (LIG) families. This implies that lower the household income, lower the rate of interest and vice-versa. This policy provides incentives for executing agencies in promoting housing for the less privileged. HUDCO’s policies of reaching the target groups has been further intensified by adopting a policy of differential project funding, i.e. the lower the cost of shelter unit, the higher the loan component of HUDCO in proportion to the project cost. This is to help in upgrading of planning design and implementation of the project to be funded by HUDCO. This policy has been consolidated by cutting down on the amortization period, meaning that the lower the monthly family income of the target groups, the higher the amortization period and vice-versa.

    

2. Augmentation of Basic Community Facilities and Infrastructure Services: For optimum use of resources for the benefit of EWS and LIG families, HUDCO has an overall resource system, plus monitoring and control systems. HUDCO has implemented an array of schemes to give shape to its objectives of providing shelter and thereby ameliorating the conditions of the people of the country. Apart from financing social housing schemes, HUDCO has also attempted to improve the quality of life by augmenting basic community facilities and infrastructural services. It promotes projects involving self help by the beneficiaries by encouraging sites and service, core housing, skeletal housing, etc. It extends financial assistance for basic sanitation schemes on liberalized terms.

    

3. Environmental Improvement of Slums, Housing Improvement, etc.: HUDCO provides benefits to the masses under the wide canvas of urban housing and rural housing environmental improvement of slums, housing improvement, repair and renewal, social infrastructure, basic sanitation, staff housing, cooperative housing, building materials, land acquisition, and urban infrastructure.

    

4. Availability of Quicker Finance: To facilitate availability of quicker finance for developmental activities of housing agencies, HUDCO decentralized its operations. Today, it has a regional or development office in almost in every state capital.

   To meet its objectives, HUDCO mobilizes funds from various resources such as equity contributions from the government, borrowings from public by the issue of shelter or urban bonds and borrowings from institutions.

    

5. Infrastructure Projects: HUDCO has financed urban infrastructure projects to a limited extent. To check the deteriorating conditions in cities and towns and to make timely investments in urban infrastructure, the Government of India, pending creation of the separate infrastructure Corporation as HUDCO subsidiary, directed it to extend financial assistance to agencies dealing with the implementation, operation, and maintenance of urban infrastructure. To facilitate this, a separate Urban Infrastructure Finance wing has been created for processing loan proposals for HUDCO financial assistance. Under this facility, HUDCO provides long-term loans for upgradation and augmentation of urban services, supportive activities for the integrated development of specific or whole areas of the metropolitan city or town, support to the development of peripheral areas of a city or new township or growth centres in an integrated regional context and support for innovative urban development schemes of public or private agencies including land development and urban renewal, and leasing of equipment for city level services.

    

6. Liberation of Scavengers and Nehru Rozgar Yojna: As part of the action plan for implementation of the government’s programmes and policies, HUDCO, besides its existing basic sanitation scheme for conversion of dry latrines to water borne latrines, has integrated its schemes with the scheme floated by the Ministry of Welfare and thus introduced an ‘Integrated Scheme of the Liberation of Scavengers and Improvement of Sanitation’. The objective of the scheme is to totally eliminate manual scavenging involved in the dry latrines and convert them into low cost sanitation units. Scavengers so liberated would simultaneously be rehabilitated under this scheme by the state governments.

   Besides the above, the implementation of the scheme of urban employment through shelter and skill upgradation was also entrusted to HUDCO by the government. This scheme, as a part of Nehru Rozgar Yojna, is designed for promoting employment amongst the urban poor. Loan assistance under this is also available for upgradation scheme in declared slum areas, inner city areas and areas predominantly inhabited by low income group. The scheme should, however, be in line with the shelter and upgradation and development policy of the state.

    

7. Development Efforts in the North East: HUDCO has been making strenuous efforts to enhance its development work in the North Eastern states. Since the opening of its regional office in Guwahati, HUDCO has increased its loan assistance to this region beyond the normal loan allocation for individual states. Considering the special characteristics of the region, HUDCO has revised its lending norms and increased the ceiling costs by 25 per cent for dwelling units under the EWS and LIG categories. Further, under the urban employment through housing and shelter upgradation programme, schemes have been sanctioned in the states of Assam, Tripura, and Manipur covering the central subsidy allocated to these states to its full extent. It is also proposed to set up an exclusive organization, HUDCO North East Limited, for the development of the region.

    

8. Promotion of Housing Finance Corporations (HFCs): To step up the effort of the government to create more and more housing finance institutions to facilitate the availability of housing finance to individual home owners, HUDCO has collaborated with Central Bank of India and Indian Bank for setting up of two regional housing finance companies to cater to the needs of people in the central and southern states of the country. HUDCO has provided equity support of Rs 1.25 crores and Rs 2.5 crores to these companies, respectively. The other participants in these ventures are UTI, HDFC, etc.

    

9. Loan Sanctions: During 1989–90 alone, HUDCO sanctioned 844 projects valuing Rs 1647 crores. Loan commitment for these projects was Rs 907 crores against the target of Rs 760 crores registering an increase of 39 per cent over the previous year’s sanctions. Ninety five per cent of total residential units and 85 per cent of plots sanctioned are meant for EWS. These loan sanctions, besides normal housing schemes, included loans for schemes for land acquisition, urban infrastructure, low cost sanitation, liberation of scavengers, NRY, and building material industries. The sanctioned schemes will enable construction and upgradation of 4.6 lakh residential units in urban areas and 2 lakh in rural areas, development of over 0.32 lakh residential plots and conversion/construction of 2.8 lakhs basic sanitation units spread over the length and breadth of the country and also augmentation of water supply and drainage, road improvement facilities, acquisition of 2438 hectares of land and future housing schemes. HUDCO achieved a loan sanction of Rs 6666.67 crores in 1998–99, a massive increase of 118 per cent above the previous year’s achievement to Rs 3061.86 crore.

    

10. Welfare of Weaker Sections and SCs/STs: During 1989–90, HUDCO made significant contribution to the betterment of economically weaker sections and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Over 20 per cent of all dwelling units sanctioned were exclusively meant for SC and ST families. At the end of the year, HUDCO sanctioned schemes envisaged construction of over 1.34 lakh dwellings to benefit SC and ST families exclusively.

     

11. Two Million Housing Programmes: HUDCO has been assigned a significant role in the implementation of the ambitious programme of the government to provide 20 lakh additional units every year. Of the 20 lakh additional housing units, 7 lakh are to be provided in urban areas involving a total cost of Rs 4,000 crore.

    The opening of the retail lending window has inaugurated a new thrust on individuals and has simultaneously given a chance to HUDCO to show its all round abilities to the public at large. Individual Home Finance Division with proper built-in flexibilities and through innovation will try to cater to the needs of all sections of the society.

     

12. Resource Mobilization: HUDCO raises its finance through government guaranteed debentures, shelter bonds, urban bonds, and capgain debentures and raising term loan from UTI, banks. During 1998–99, it had mobilized Rs 2,150 crores.

     

13. Promotion of Building Materials and Technologies: As a result of various steps taken by the central and state governments for improving the availability of land, and finance for housing development, it was felt that this will augment the demand for building materials. To meet this increased demand for building materials for low cost housing, HUDCO, since its inception has been making efforts to promote appropriate building materials and technologies for the manufacture of basic, substitute or alternative building materials. In this direction, HUDCO has been extending financial assistance for setting up various building material manufacturing units particularly those utilizing local materials, agricultural, forest, and industrial wastes and also innovative technologies for the manufacture of standard building materials. HUDCO has so far financed numerous building material schemes in various states for dehydrated lime (a substitute for cement); pitch fibre pipes (a substitute for GI and MS pipes); wood working units using secondary species of timber duly treated and seasoned; sand lime bricks replacing the use of clay; and brick making manufacturing units.

     

14. Building Centres: The Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, and HUDCO launched a national programme that set up a network of building centres all over the country in the year 1988 for promoting appropriate building technologies through training of artisans. A grant of Rs 2 lakhs is provided by the Ministry of Urban Development and working capital loan upto Rs 4 lakh by HUDCO whereafter the building centres are expected to be self-sustaining. The building centres have trained a number of carpenters, barbenders, etc. Village offices, fishermen markets, and a large number of housing units under Indira Awas Yojna of Rural Housing Programme, and individual homes for all category of people have been constructed by these Building centres.

     

15. Habitat Engineers: To strengthen its programme of building centres, HUDCO initiated the concept of ‘habitat engineer’. This concept is to emphasize the role of the habitat and the habitat engineer to perform as the key functionary of a building centre to enable the promotion of appropriate low cost technologies by supervision and engaging in the execution of the projects and also by providing training to workers and artisans. The habitat engineers are trained over a period of one year in different disciplines before being placed in different building centres for promoting appropriate technologies among workers and others.

     

16. Studies in Collaboration with TIFAC: The Technology, Information, Forecasting, and Assessment Council (TIFAC) has been established under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) for examining existing technology, the course of future technological developments in various sectors of the economy, ensuring timely availability of requisite technologies, and suggesting strategies for technologies developments in line with socio-economic, environmental, and security needs of the country.

    HUDCO has undertaken specific studies along with TIFAC in relation to building technology and skills and different aspects of human settlement planning such as technology for low-rise high density housing, low cost infrastructure, and guided urban development. Based on this work suitable recommendations are being sent by TIFAC to the Ministry of Urban Development for consideration.

     

17. Design for Housing Scheme for Bhopal Gas Victims: HUDCO’s Design and Development Wing, at the request of the MP Housing Board, designed a housing scheme for the Bhopal gas victims. The proposed design is ground plus one-storeyed development with future room facility to each unit at the same level. Houses are organized in cluster condominiums with a single entry point, thus promoting good neighbourhood environment. Low-rise development is proposed in view of the fact that climbing more than one flight may be difficult to most of the gas victims due to their bad health or physical handicap. The cluster condominiums pattern under the scheme was recognized and the Indian Institute of Architects has awarded a certificate for Excellence in Architecture for the proposed HUDCO Design.

     

18. Training at Human Settlement Management Institute: Human Settlement Management Institute (HSMI) has emerged as a national level training and research institution with a wide variety of programmes of both national and international recognition. The stress of its activities has been on practical aspects of human settlement planning and management with training programmes in the specific subject areas of urban management, housing for weaker sections, slum upgradation, housing finance, computer applications in human settlements, land assembly and development for housing, settlement design, low cost infrastructure, and construction management. A special orientation programme for senior executives of housing and urban development agencies was also initiated in 1989. In the international sphere, HSMI has collaboration with the Institute for Housing Studies (IHS), Rotterdam, Netherlands, for training and research support under Indo-Dutch Technical Cooperation.

     

19. Habitat Polytech: In order to meet the urgent demand for reorienting technical education to meet the requirement of housing and human settlements, HUDCO in collaboration with Slum Wing, DDA, has established a Habitat Polytech in New Delhi to provide Bachelor courses in Habitat Planning, Habitat Management, Architecture, training for NGO’s and training in building skills for artisans. The Polytech provides in-service training to employed engineers in areas related to habitat planning. It is hoped that this Polytech would go a long way in meeting the urgent demand for training field level personnel and voluntary organizations to effectively deal with housing problems of the poor.

     

20. Human Resource Development: As HUDCO treats its staff as a human resource, it has renamed its Personnel and Administration Wing the Human Resource Development Wing. The HRD Wing, in addition to its usual functions, continuously monitors the training needs of the employees. To meet this it either organizes in-house training courses at HSMI or sponsors names for short term courses organized by reputed professional institutions in the country. In addition, it sponsors its employees for training, study meetings and seminars abroad.

     

21. UNCHS-Information Dissemination Office, Madras: The United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) with its headquarters at Nairobi opened its Information Dissemination Office in Madras on the premises of the southern zonal office of HUDCO on 17 September, 1991. The main objective of the information centre is to undertake the dissemination of UNCHS publications and audio-visual material both within India as well as the neighbouring countries. It is particularly targeted at national and state governments, housing agencies, local bodies, educational institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and community-based organizations with a view of sensitizing the concepts and objectives of the Global Strategy for Shelter. The UNCHD-IDO will also generate information based on significant contributions in the field of human settlements in India and neighbouring countries for wider global dissemination.⁶

     

22. SAARC Declaration for Provision of Shelter by 2000: The SAARC heads of states in the fifth SAARC summit held at Male in December, 1990, had declared 1991 as SAARC year of Shelter, with a view to give right focus and arrive at appropriate policies, programmes, and projects which could lead towards the goal of shelter for all by the year 2000. The Male declaration had recognized the imperative need for providing a better habitat to the people of South Asia through optimum utilization of materials, indigenous technology, and skills.

Achievements of HUDCO

Over the last three decades, HUDCO has been consistently working to promote viable settlements, with the prime focus on the economically weaker sections, to maintain a social and economical balance. It encourages indigenous and low-cost building materials and techniques that ensure economic and environmentally appropriate settlements having simple and aesthetic housing designs, thereby reducing costs and bringing housing within the reach of the people. It has established itself as the Nation’s premier techno-financing institution in the field of housing and human settlement.⁷

HUDCO sanctioned a loan of Rs 6666.67 crores, provided assistance for the construction of 18.60 lakh dwelling units, over nine lakh sanitation units and 122 urban infrastructure projects throughout the country in 1998–99 and made an approximate profit of Rs 69.71 crores.⁸

In spite of its endeavour HUDCO has yet to achieve a lot to effectively reach the poor communities and a majority still live in shanty colonies with sanitation and civic facilities leaving much to be desired.

Habitat Scroll of Honour 1991 Award to HUDCO

HUDCO was awarded the prestigious award of Habitat Scroll of Honour 1991 by Shri Areot Ramachandran, Under Secretary-General, United Nations, and Executive Director, United Nations Centre for Human Settlement (Habitat), on 17 September 1991 at Madras for innovation, development, and promotion of building material, design, and construction for affordable housing for the poor and training in construction skills. Smt Sheela Kaul, then Minister of Urban Development, Government of India, while receiving the award, had congratulated HUDCO on the conferment of this unique honour and observed that HUDCO has emerged, of late, as a comprehensive human settlement development institution with significant contribution in the field of shelter, urban infrastructure, construction methods and technology, low cost innovative building materials, skill upgradation, and human resources development of the people both in urban and rural areas. She added, ‘The award of 1991 Habitat Scroll of Honour by UNCHS to HUDCO epitomizes the international recognition of the role that it is playing in India and this award has also come at the most appropriate time as 1991 has been declared as SAARC year of Shelter.⁹

Delhi Development Authority

Delhi Development Authority (DDA) was set up on 30 December 1957 under an Act of Parliament. Its genesis can be traced to a tiny nazul Office under the deputy commissioner of Delhi in 1922 which was upgraded in 1937 into an improvement trust and finally its transformation into a full-fledged development authority in 1957.

Objects of DDA

The Act defines the objects of the Authority as: ‘to 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, to execute works in connection with supply of water and electricity, disposal of sewage and other services and amenities and generally to do anything necessary or expedient for purpose of such development and for purposes incidental thereto’.

Delhi, in 1957, had a population of 18 lakh and it was steadily increasing due to the influx of people in search of employment and better avenues of advancement. The growth was haphazard. In order to ensure an integrated and planned development, the Master Plan for Delhi, 1962, provided the necessary framework and guidelines to the DDA.¹⁰ Since its inception, the Authority has endeavoured to ensure growth on the following lines: by creating self-contained zones and divisions and providing residential accommodation and community facilities near the employment centres; by decentralizing the facilities so as to reduce the burden on the public utilities; by providing functionally utilitarian, economically viable and aesthetically satisfying shelters to all the sections of the society as per their family requirements and paying capacity; by ensuring sufficient lung space within the city through the development and preservation of green areas; by preserving the cultural heritage of Delhi and its historical landmarks and at the same time making it a modern city which can withstand the pressures of urbanization for the years to come; by providing recreational/sports centres in all parts of the city; by providing civic amenities and facilities to the unorganized and dilapidated shelters/structures.

Functions of DDA

Far from merely being an agency entrusted with development of land and housing, the DDA has played a role in each and every activity connected directly or indirectly with the development of Delhi as metropolitan city. While it is difficult to compartmentalize the functions of DDA, these can be grouped into: development of land for residential industrial, commercial, institutional and recreational purposes; construction of houses; resettlement of squatters and providing them group facilities; constructing recreational centres and sports complexes; developing and preserving greens; developing infrastructure facilities; constructing commercial facilities for smooth functioning of the city such as bus terminuses and flyovers; constructing commercial centres, convenient shopping centres, etc.; relocation and development of industries to non-farming areas and industrial colonies.

Administrative Organization

The Delhi Development Authority has a multiplicity of functions which it is required to perform in order to fulfil its objectives. The main executive body of DDA is known as ‘Authority’. The Authority has 13 members and its constitution is as follows:

1. Lieutenant Governor, Delhi
2. Two representatives of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi
3. Three representatives of the Metropolitan Council
4. Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi
5. Three persons nominated by the central government, one of them having experience of town planning and architecture
6. Vice-Chairman, Finance Member, and Engineer Member of the DDA

The Lt Governor, Delhi, is the ex-officio Chairman of the DDA. The central government appoints the vice-chairman who is the chief executive, the finance member, engineer member, secretary, and chief accounts officer. The Authority, subject to such checks and balances as may be provided under various rules, may appoint such other officers and employees as are necessary for the efficient working of the organization. The Authority has seven main departments having a number of cells affiliated to each department. The functions of these departments and cells are described as follows:

1. Personnel Department: The Personnel Department is headed by the Commissioner (Personnel). He is assisted by one Director, four Deputy Directors, nine Assistant Directors and secretarial staff. It is responsible for human resource planning and development. It plays a very important role with respect to the recruitment, training, placement and promotion of DDA employees, service matter rules as finalization of seniority, crossing of efficiency bar and confirmation in service.

    

2. Welfare Department: The Welfare Department looks after the welfare of all categories of employees of the DDA. It also helps in creating healthy employer—employee relations by organizing cultural programmes, social get-togethers, and other allied activities. It also helps in processing case for appointments on compassionate grounds, payment of group insurance, and disbursements from the benevolent fund. In addition to these welfare activities, it runs a departmental canteen that provides clean and healthy food on a no-profit—no-loss basis to all the employees. The Chief Welfare Officer who is the Secretary of the Canteen Managing Committee makes regular inspections of the canteen to ensure maintenance of hygiene in preparation of food stuffs and efficiency and affability in service. The DDA also has a Sports Club which organizes various types of meets and awards prizes to the winners. The welfare section plays an important and effective role in maintaining healthy bonds between the employees and the management. It coordinates and arranges various meetings with the representative of various unions thereby providing a platform for across-the-table discussion. These meetings and discussions help in redressal of grievances.

Parliament and Coordination Branch

Parliament cell processes questions on matters relating to housing, lands, building, administration, horticulture, etc. It replies to the metropolitan council questions as well. It also prepares the annual administration report and other reports.

The coordination committee holds meetings under the chairmanship of the vice-chairman to review progress in various spheres of day-to-day administration and takes appropriate remedial measure wherever necessary. It also disposes time-bound references/queries received from the Directorate of Public Grievances or Cabinet Secretariat or the Ministry of Urban Development.

The Staff Quarters Allotment Branch deals with allotment of staff quarters to the employees of the DDA. After allotment, the staff quarters are inspected to find out if there has been any subletting or violation of the terms and conditions of the allotment. Show-cause notices are issued to the erring allotees and in case no satisfactory reply is given the allotment is cancelled and the allottee is debarred for a period of one year from further allotment.

The Public Relations Cell performs many useful functions such as formulation of advertising policy, fixation of annual advertisement rates, empanelment of advertising agencies, covering of meetings and press conferences, arranging for visits of VIPs, bringing out publicity material, issuing rejoinders to criticism in the media, and organizing public hearings. The DDA being a premier housing and development organization plays host to many delegations visiting India to see the progress made in the realm of urban development.

3. Law Department: The Law Department has been assigned the job of looking after the entire litigation work of the Authority. It also renders advice in all important matters which are referred to it by various departments/sections of the Authority. The Department is headed by Chief Legal Advisor who is assisted by Deputy Chief Legal Adviser, Legal Adviser/Senior Law Officer, Junior Law Officer, and Legal Assistant. The services of advocates on the panel of the authority are also requisitioned from time to time.

The Law Department is organized into seven divisions with the functions enumerated against each as follows:

Division-I: General administration, receipt, and dispatch of notices, summons, general dak and coordination with other departments of the Authority.

Division-II: Cases under P.P. Act, LSB (Res.), commercial and industrial plots cases relating to development area, demolition of unauthorized constructions, Nazul land, Wakf land, etc.

Division-III: Cases of Housing, Building and Planning Department, mainly regarding flats, unauthorized construction, cases relating to the Master Plan, etc.

Division-IV: Administration, vigilance, and industrial disputes, cases under Workmen’s Compensation Act, Industrial Disputes Act, and Provident Fund.

Division-V: Cases of Engineering Division and Arbitrary Act. These are time bound and thus dealt promptly.

Division-VI: Criminal prosecution for contravention of the Master Plan under Section 29 (2) read with Section 14 of DD Act, 1957 and prosecution for unauthorized construction.

Division-VII: Tis Hazari Court, High Court.

Vigilance Cell

The chief vigilance officer is the head of the Vigilance Department in DDA. He is assisted by one director, four deputy directors, one accounts officer, one section officer, five assistant directors, and one superintendent for the purposes of conducting investigations on non-technical matters and processing of the disciplinary cases against all the employees of DDA. The Vigilance department also has a technical wing for conducting investigation of the cases of technical nature of engineering, horticulture department, etc. On the technical side, there are two superintending Engineers, eight executive engineers, and six assistant engineers to assist the chief vigilance officer. For the actual conduct of departmental inquiries there is one post of commissioner of departmental inquiries and one superintending engineer (inquiries).

The Vigilance Department is responsible for the implementation of anti-corruption measures and maintenance of integrity in service as per instructions issued from time to time by the Department of Personnel Administrative Reforms, Ministry of Home Affairs and the Central Vigilance Commission. More stress is placed on preventive vigilance, conducting periodical inspections, and surveillance. The defects coming to the notice during the inspections are brought to the notice of heads of departments to plug the loopholes and streamline the procedure wherever necessary. The Vigilance Department examines the existing procedures for the issue of various permits, possession letters and such in order to remove bottlenecks and sources of delay, which are a source of harassment and corruption.

On the engineering side, a constant watch is kept on the cost, quality of material used and the time taken in executing the works. A quality control wing headed by a chief engineer is constantly examining the ongoing work so that there is no compromise on the quality of material used. Surprise checks are done by the technical officers of the Vigilance Department also to detect and prevent malpractice.

The finance and accounts wing of the Authority is headed by the finance member. The accounts of the Authority are maintained in the following six divisions: (i) Nazul Account (I), (ii) Nazul Account (II), (iii) Nazul Account (III), (iv) General Department Account, (v) Accounts of ISBT at Kashmere Gate, (vi) Delhi Lotteries Account.

Nazul Account-I represents the transactions relating to the old Nazul estates entrusted for management by the government to the erstwhile Delhi Improvement Trust under the Nazul Agreement, 1937, and taken over by the DDA in December, 1957, as the successor body. The accounts also include transactions relating to the preparation and implementation of the Delhi Master Plan and zonal development plans.

Nazul Accounts-II comprises transactions pertaining to the scheme of large-scale acquisition, development, and disposal of land in Delhi. The sales proceeds of land and recovery of ground rent realized are accounted for in this account. The surplus of receipts over expenditure incurred on the development of land is remitted to Delhi administration periodically for meeting the liabilities in respect of land acquired or for acquisition of new lands by Delhi administration.

Nazul Accounts-III relates to the Jhuggi-Jhompuri Removal Scheme. This scheme was mainly financed out of the Government grants but has since been transferred to Municipal Corporation of Delhi in June 1988.

General Developments Account is the main account of the Authority. Unlike Nazul accounts, the assets and liabilities arising from the transactions under this account are wholly the property of the Authority as a statutory corporate body. All properties and lands vesting in the Authority are paid for out of the revenues of this account. Under this account the DDA has undertaken housing programmes for the weaker sections, lower income and middle income groups. In addition, the DDA has launched a number of self-financing housing schemes. Commercial schemes like the development of Nehru Place. Bhikaji Cama Place, and the ISBT at Kashmere Gate are also financed from this account.

4. Engineering Wing: The engineering wing is headed by the engineer member. To facilitate smooth working of the wing, the DDA has been divided into six construction zones and each zone is under the charge of a zonal chief engineer. The electrification work of all the six zones is under the charge of a C.E. (Elect.).

The functions of the engineering wing are multifarious and range from developing land for various purposes, constructing various structures over developed land, providing infrastructure such as road, storm water drains, sewerage, water supply and other allied facilities, developing the greens to provide adequate lung space, constructing structures to provide health and recreational facilities. The activities of the engineering wing can be broadly divided into: (i) housing, (ii) infrastructural development, (iii) constructing buildings (non-residential), (iv) developing greens (horticulture wing), (v) sports complexes and other recreational facilities, and (vi) designing various projects.

1. Housing. In order to meet the demands of various strata of society, houses of varying accommodation, specification, and cost are constructed.
2. Infrastructural Department involves developing various facilities and amenities such as roads, sewers, drains, levelling of land so as to make it worthy of habitation or construction for various purposes. The work under this head can be sub-divided into various categories: (i) development of land by providing infrastructure facilities and making it suitable for allotment as residential plots, commercial plots, etc., (ii) development of land and infrastructure for various group housing societies, and (iii) development of infrastructure for various residential schemes.
3. Construction of Non-Residential Complexes includes developing and constructing shopping centres which facilitate convenient shopping of various daily necessities to the residents of particular pocket, big shopping centres, commercial centres, industrial sheds, transport centres, community centres, school buildings, etc.
4. Developing Green Areas (Horticulture Wing): One of the main tasks of the horticulture wing is to develop and maintain large green areas in order to maintain a balanced ecosystem; large green areas are landscaped and developed in the shape of neighbourhood parks, district parks and artificial lakes. Planting of road side tress and maintaining its own nurseries for supply of seed plants are other important activities of the department.
5. Developing sports complexes and sports facilities at various places in Green areas: The engineering wing takes up construction of sports complexes at various places with facilities for almost all games. The DDA develops special fitness trails and provides equipment in many of the big parks under its charge to enable the public to practise various types of physical exercises. The DDA develops some parks as special children parks.
6. Designing the Various Projects: The office of the central design organization broadly consists of two units, one pertaining to structural designs and other to service planning.

Quality Control Wing: The function of this cell is to create awareness among the field officers towards the quality of the work and of their responsibilities by making random inspection of the works including random checking of the quality of materials being used in different works. The wing has a full-fledged laboratory of its own for testing the samples of materials drawn from different sites of works during the course of its inspections. In addition to the above tests the wing also investigates complaints received from individual allottees or various residents’ welfare associations.

Planning and Architecture and Development Control Wing deals with (a) perspective planning: perspective plan, urban extension and NCR transportation, walled city and special area; (b) development control and planning: master plan and zonal plan, planning building section, trans-Yamuna area; c projects: Rohini, Dwarka (Papankalan), Narela, Jasola; and housing and urban projects.

Lands Department

The Lands Department is headed by the Commissioner (Lands) who is assisted by three directors in the management of the land of the revenue estates entrusted by the Government of India to the erstwhile Delhi Improvement Trust under the Nazul Agreement 1937 and the land placed at the disposal of DDA since 1961 under the scheme of Large Scale Acquisition, Development, and Disposal of Land in Delhi. In addition, this department also administers the land transferred by the Ministry of Rehabilitation. The department functions through the following branches:

Enforcement Branch ensures that most appropriate economical healthy development of the city takes place as per provisions of the master plan and the zonal plans. Where it is noticed that the premises are being used for contravening the provisions of the master plan and zonal plans, the owners or lessees and the tenants are prosecuted under the law, and are punished with fine which may extend to Rs 5,000, and in case of continuing offence, with further fine extended to Rs 250 per day under Section 14 read with Section 29(2) of the DDA Act. Temporary permission is granted under the provision of the special appeal subject to payment of composition fees and fulfilment of other terms and conditions as may be laid down by the authority in this regard.

1. Lease Administration Branch disposes of plots through auctions and allotment of alternative plots under the scheme of Large Scale Acquisition, Development and Disposal of Land in Delhi 1961.
2. Old Scheme Branch deals with the lease administration of about 14,000 plots leased out by the erstwhile Delhi Improvement Trust, allotment of plots or land under GADGIL Assurance Scheme to the displaced persons, re-development of Kingsway Camp, allotment or auction of MOR land, and regularization of unauthorized occupants on MOR land and old Nazul lands.
3. Commercial Lands Cell deals with the disposal of commercial plots. It is also responsible for execution and registration of lease deeds.
4. Land Protection Branch protects the vacant lands available with the DDA. The entire state of Delhi has been divided into nine zones headed by the Deputy Director. A mobile demolition squad of the staff strength of 150 persons taken on deputation from Delhi Police assists the Deputy Directors in the discharge of their duties.
5. Institutional Branch deals with the allotments of land to government, semi-government and private institutions. The allotment of land to private institutions is made on the recommendation or sponsorship from the concerned department or ministry.
6. Damages Branch is responsible for assessment and recovery of damages from the unauthorized occupants squattering on the DDA or government lands. This branch also undertakes eviction proceedings against the unauthorized occupants on government lands or in purchase or cancellation of allotments of staff quarters or those made under various DDA schemes.
7. Co-operative House Building Societies Cell deals with 127 cooperative societies out of which one society, i.e. Delhi School Teachers CHBS is being managed by the land building department, Delhi administration, for administrative reasons, the allotment of land to this society was made by the Delhi Administration prior to 1970.

Policies and Guidelines for Redressal of Grievances of Public

DDA has issued appropriate guidelines in consultation with the legal department, to allow mutations where the leasees and allottees have died leaving behind a ‘WILL’. Earlier it used to take more than six months to decide these cases but now the work is completed within 10–15 days. To avoid delay in execution of leases, a sub-registrar has been posted to work in Vikas Sadan.

A policy decision has been taken to allow the transfer of plots sold through the Power of Attorney after charging unearned increase. The procedure has been simplified and the mutation is carried out within a week or so of the deposit of unearned increase with DDA.

Possession letters are issued on production of chalaans of payment without their realization being confirmed by accounts. Moreover, arrangements have been made to issue the demand letter on the very next day of auction and possession is handed over immediately on the production of required documents by the purchasers and allotees. Mortgage permission is also now granted along with the possession letters.

5. Housing Department: The allotment of houses constructed by the engineering wing of DDA is entrusted to the housing department. The need for such a department was felt due to the increasing demand for a shelter. Initially the DDA was only developing and disposing of plots for residential, commercial, institutional, and other purposes. But due to large influx of people migrating from neighbouring areas, it was felt that the need for shelter can be best satisfied by constructing flats as per the paying capacity and requirements of different persons. The increases in the number of units necessitated allotment to the right eligible persons and thereby the need for a full-fledged housing department. Apart from allotting number of houses, steps have been taken to simplify the procedure of issuing allotment letters and also to facilitate easy delivery of possession letters to the allottees. Now possession letters are issued across the counter after giving due publicity to the date of allotment and the scheme under which the allotments are being made. Special attention is paid to accommodate retired and retiring public servants.

6. Slum Wing: The slum wing has the main responsibility for improving the quality of life of the slum/jhug- gie dwellers. This mandate of the slum wing is carried out by implementing the socio-economic programmes approved by Delhi administration from time to time within the ambit of plan scheme. The qualitative improvement in the life of these disadvantaged settlements brought about by provision of basic minimum amenities also relate to the provision of shelter to shelterless, residential dwelling units to slum dwellers and to the economically weaker sections of the society.

The Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act, 1959, remained a source of guidance to the various activities of the slum wing with the main stress on the clearance of slums until the termination of the Sixth Five year Plan, 1980–85. Due to some functional problems in pursuing this approach there was a shift from the clearance to the improvement and upgradation of existing slums. The factors that forced for this change were: resistance from slum communities against disruption due to length of stay in the areas; physical and financial constraints to provide alternative housing stock to all the affected families; non-availability of vacant land adjoining the slum areas for relocation; and political overtones in the slum clearance.

The 7th Five Year Plan saw the beginning of definite efforts to restructure or revamp the activities of the slum wing by incorporating innovative and imaginative approaches to solve the physical and other problems of the slum areas. One such major endeavour was to facilitate and promote through access to land, finance and technology for house building by the economically weaker sections/lower strata of society and jhuggie dwellers themselves under the self-help approach, through the formation of co-operative group housing societies. NGOs are also used for motivational efforts for reaching the fits of various welfare schemes of Slum Wing, to the target group by creating higher receptivity level in terms of acceptance of the programmes and co-operation from the communities.

There are two sources to fund the activities of the slum wing, viz. pre-determined financial outlays provided by Delhi administration under successive annual plans for various projects and programmes and the funds made available from the own resources of the slum wing, from the auctions of the commercial and residential plots and built up shops/stalls etc. As mentioned above, the policies and programmes of the slum wing, have registered change depending upon the ground realities from time to time. There was a stress upto the end of the Sixth Five Year Plan for clearing dangerous buildings and properties and areas becoming unfit for human habitation by providing alternative flats comprising of 23 sq. ft. of plinth area to the evictees under the Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act, 1956. Since the Seventh Five Year Plan, this approach was abandoned and replaced by the improvement of slum on ‘as is where is basis’.

Various Schemes of Slum Wing

1. Residential Flats Registration scheme was launched in 1985 to provide residential flats on cash down or easy terms basis with the recovery period spread over 15 years.
2. Environmental Improvement in Urban Slums scheme helps provide basic civic amenities such as water supply, sewers, storm water drains, community latrines and bath known as Jan Suvidha Complexes, widening and paving of existing lanes, dhalaos, street light, multi-purpose community halls containing provision of baratghars, reading room-libraries, anganwaries, dispensaries, open air theatres, and toilets in notified slums depending upon the need and availability of resources.
3. Environmental Improvement in Jhuggie Clusters scheme which came into being with the initiation of the Seventh Five Year Plan gives full responsibility to the slum wing, for improving the quality of life of about 12 lakh people living over 700 jhuggies—jhompries clusters strewn all over Delhi. Under this programme the DDA provides the following basic amenities: (i) pay and use jansuvidha complexes containing toilets and bathrooms at community level, (ii) water supply either through water hydrants or deep handpumps depending upon availability of water from municipal mains, street lights on the peripheries for illumination of streets or paths in jhuggie bastis, (iii) dhalaos or dustbins for collection of garbage or rubbish, and (iv) paned pathways and drains.

   The use of these facilities is available for a nominal charge of 20 paise per use for adult males whereas, women and children are free to use the facilities without any charge. These complexes are maintained by the nominated agencies such as Sulabh International, Indian Institute of Low Cost Sanitation, All India Parivar Kalyan Parishad etc. In some cases, the local community has itself volunteered to maintain the complexes.

   A structural Improvement in Slum Katras Scheme is designed to carry out necessary repairs in the slum katras in the walled city of Delhi and its extension for ensuring structural safety of the properties and katras. This scheme is applicable only to those katras which are under the management control of Slum Wing, and are economically viable for repairs without heavy investment. For minor repairs and day to day maintenance the slum wing has established nine maintenance stores in various parts of the slum areas, which are capable of carrying out repairs with the building material and technical/non-technical man power available with them.

   Re-development of Shahjanabad scheme envisages the urban renewal and the decongestion of the walled city.

4. Private Katras and Their Development : For re-development of private katras and properties, the slum wing is supposed to issue NOC’s under Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act, 1956. However, this work has now been assigned to Delhi Municipal Corporation.

7. Vishramgrahs: As per the 2001 census, there is a population of 6.5 crores in the country and 52,765 in Delhi alone who are considered absolutely shelterless. The fact that they form very much part of the segment of the population, the welfare of which need immediate attention. In Delhi, a scheme of construction of Vishramgrahs/renbaseras was launched during the Seventh Five Year Plan. The beneficiaries of this scheme are the people who are generally low paid workers, i.e. labourers, coolies, cobblers, load carriers, rag pickers, and others working in minor positions in the informal sector, who in the absence of any house or place of their own sleep on the pavements and open spaces.

Under this scheme, the slum wing has so far constructed such vishramgrahs in Basti Nizamudin, Azadpur Subzimandi, Pahar Ganj, Jhandewalan, Mukherjee Market (opposite Red Fort), Shahzada Bagh, and a temporary night shelter at Turkman Gate. For the benefit of Haj pilgrims passing through Delhi, Haj Manzil containing multi-purpose facilities such as night shelter and community facilities complex has also been constructed at Turkman Gate.

In addition, fifteen night shelters or renbaseras for the shelterless provide not only space to sleep but also give a feeling of home. The facilities provided at these night shelters comprise the common toilets/baths, water, blankets, jute mattresses, reading material, TV, etc. This facility of using the night shelter is available at a nominal charge ranging from 50 paise to Re 1 for per night stay.

Inadequacies and Deficiencies of Night Shelters

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had criticized the DDA for its failure to build enough night shelters and for unproductive and excess expenditure. The CAG report said money meant for the construction of night shelters was used for the renovation of old night shelters, purchase of a jeep and purchase of items for the day-to-day business of the night shelters, which were to be met out of the revenues of the DDA.

The Slum Wing of the DDA undertook a survey of night shelters, and it was found that the available accommodation was woefully inadequate.

During the Seventh Five Year Plan, a scheme for the construction of 25 night shelters in different parts of the capital with an outlay of Rs 3 crore was approved. However, the DDA did not make any survey before the implementation of the scheme of the actual number of homeless persons in Delhi. Suitable sites, where the night shelters were actually required, could not be constructed due to the non-availability of land. Thus, the night shelters were constructed at places where the sites were not necessarily the most suitable for fulfilling needs of the shelters. Besides, no effort was made to provide shelters for women and children to fully meet the social objective of providing shelter to the homeless. As for the under utilization of night shelters, the CAG said, of the three shelters constructed at Azadpur Sabzi Mandi in February 1987, one was being used, one was not being utilized and the third was being used for office purposes. Two units constructed in Paharganj in January 1988 were not being used due to resistance from the local public. Thus, the non-utilization of these four units had resulted in an unproductive expenditure of Rs 29.15 lakh.

The survey had envisaged that the maintenance of shelters should be entrusted to non-profit making voluntary organizations. The non-involvement of any voluntary organization in the functioning of the night shelters is an indicator of the lack of perception and proper planning, unless such organizations are full involved in the management and encouraged to participate, the social objectives of the scheme for providing night shelters to the shelterless cannot be achieved.

Apart from providing the comfort of life, programmes for skill upgradation are also taken up. All present in these programmes are being organized by the Sharmik Vidya Peeth, Directorate of Adult Education, Government of India with a focus on improving/increasing the productive capabilities of the inmates. In the slum wing, these programmes have been taken up on experimental basis:

1. Conversion of Dry Latrines into Water Borne Latrines is a socially motivated scheme which has twin objective of improving the sanitation conditions due to the present insanitation in the absence of disposable water borne latrines and to eliminate the inhuman conditions by liberating the scavengers from collecting the excreta manually. Under this scheme as an incentive a subsidy of Rs 500 is provided to the intended beneficiary for converting the dry latrines into water borne latrines.
2. Horticultural Works in Notified Slums are planned in such a way that their benefits accrue to the target group of slum and jhuggie clusters.
3. Developed Plots for Self Housing to Lower Strata of Society and Economically Weaker Sections Including Squatters: During the Seventh Five Year Plan, a project for the provision of 44,000 low cost developed plots of 26 sq. m. each was approved with an outlay of Rs 52.80 crore. The target group of this scheme is the lower stratas of the society, economically weaker sections including SC and squatters.
4. Income Generating Assets for the Poor Through Commercial Stalls and Tharas Scheme was operated in the Seventh Five Year Plan.
5. Low Cost Units of Work Centres Scheme is intended for the benefit of economically weaker sections including SCs and entrepreneurs and unemployed youth who are keen in joining manufacturing activities.

Publicity Programme

With a view to removing mental barriers of slum and jhuggie dwellers, the slum wing exhibits films on socioeconomic and political aspects of life and also on sanitation, child care and health care along with Hindi feature films. Leaflets containing messages for health care, child care, and sanitation are distributed amongst slum dwellers and jhuggie dwellers through mobile cinema vans. Regular press notes are issued for opening of various facilities for public use, for giving wide coverage to the activities of the slum wing and also informing the public so that they can make use of the assets created for them.

Research and Innovation

The slum wing is directly related with the execution of projects directly or through the outside agencies. Therefore, it utilizes its past experience for formulating future policies and strategies. It sponsors its employees for various training programmes in the areas concerning the activities of the slum wing to the reputed institutions. Besides, the officers are sponsored for participating in various seminars, workshops organized at the national and international level. Recently, the slum wing has established in-house training infrastructure also with a permanent lecture-cum-conference hall where the lectures are organized by inviting reputed persons from the institutions for the benefit of the staff and officers. It has conducted certain studies on slum upgradation cost recoveries, socio-economic profile of slum and jhuggie dwellers and footpath dwellers in consultation with HUDCO and Ministry of Urban Development.

Achievements of DDA: An Overview

The Delhi Development Authority is the sole planning and development authority for the entire metropolis of Delhi. In fulfilment of its objectives and targets, it continues to acquire extensive lands, provide dwelling units for all strata of the society, build more commercial centres, sports complexes, recreational parks, and fitness trails and also develop and preserve vast new green areas. It contributes substantially and significantly to the improvement of dilapidated buildings in the walled city and other sub-standard areas and makes determined efforts to provide minimal civic amenities to the people living in slums. It tries to preserve the city’s heritage areas even while releasing building activity and providing for the growth of the infrastructure necessary to meet the relentless march of urbanization. The efforts of the policy makers and administration of Authority are directed towards making the DDA strong, sensitive, and conscious to the needs and aspirations of people and to this end it has simplified and devised many procedures by evolving a system of providing all necessary information across the counter. It has also made efforts to reach and inform people regarding various programmes and policies of DDA through press releases and advertisements. A bird’s eye view of its main activities may be given here:

1. New High in Housing Activities: The housing programme has crossed the 201,617 mark, thus far exceeding the number of dwelling units constructed by any other development agency in India. Emphasis has been laid on providing houses at reasonable and affordable cost to economically weaker sections.
2. Development of Land: Delhi Development Authority being the main executing agency of the Delhi Master Plan has been acquiring and developing land to functionally balance the future growth of Delhi. It has been developing land for residential, industrial, commercial, institutional, and recreational purposes. It has also been developing open spaces and vast green areas to contain pollution and to satisfy the aesthetic needs of the city.
3. Development of Residential Colonies: Developing residential colonies and allotting plots or constructed flats has long been one of the important functions of the DDA. Of late, many big housing colonies such as Janakpuri, Vasant Kunj, and Rohini comprising both residential flats and plots have been developed by the DDA and many more such housing colonies in Dwaraka, Jasola, Narela, and Weavers Colony in Ashok Vihar are in progress. Rohini is a multi-purpose township with an area of about 2,500 hectares, which in due course will meet the requirements of a population of 8.5 lakh. Rohini has mostly flats and plots for economically weaker sections numbering about 1,70,000. The planning and development of the Narela Project comprises 380 hectares (in phase-I), Ashok Vihar Weavers Colony comprises 760 plots of 36 sq. m. and Jasola Project covers an area of 164 hectares.
4. Development and Decentralization of Commercial Activities: One of the guidelines provided for the development of Delhi under the Master Plan is to decentralize the commercial activities and facilities so as to reduce burden on the public utilities, the DDA has already developed district- cum-office complexes at Nehru Place, Rajendra Place, Bhikaji Cama Place, Laxmi Nagar District Centre and Janakpuri. As many as 25 community centres, 64 local shopping complexes and 346 convenient shopping centres have also been developed. In allotment of shops, special consideration is accorded to the members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, physically handicapped, ex-servicemen, freedom fighters and those whose lands have been acquired by DDA for its urban extension projects.
5. Horticulture Development: The Master Plan for Delhi has provided for an integrated and balanced development of the city with a system of linked up residential spaces, recreational centres, district parks and institutional, industrial, commercial and public and semi-public areas spread all over the metropolis. Special emphasis has been laid on preserving the historical content of the city by preserving and maintaining its monuments, natural greens, river fronts, ridges, lakes, and its sprawling green parks and forests. In the midst of this capital city, humming with all sorts of activity, are the city forests.
6. Recreational and Sports Activities: The DDA has made significant contribution towards providing sports and recreational facilities in Delhi. At these sports centres facilities are provided for playing cricket, football, hockey, squash, badminton, table-tennis, and volleyball, and arrangements exist for flood lighting to facilitate playing during late hours. These sports centres are expected to go a long way in promoting the love of sports and games among the citizens of Delhi.
7. Upgradation of Slums: The slum wing of the DDA, which is responsible for providing basic amenities to the inhabitants of notified slums, sub-standard areas, and squatter settlements has done a commendable job over the years in all parts of the city.
8. Quality Control Measures: The DDA continues its efforts to improve the quality of construction by organizing random checking of material samples and recommending remedial measures for common defects found in the flats.

Future Projects (Master Plan Perspectives 2001)

DDA has many new urban extension projects and other specific schemes for the development of Delhi in order to meet the needs of its fast growing population. The framework for this activity is given in the Master Plan Perspective 2021. The salient features of this plan are: it provides for the growth of the city and the areas to be developed for various urban activities such as housing, transport, employment centres, commercial centres, recreational areas etc. by the year 2021; it seeks to introduce the concept of incremental housing on small residential plots which would benefit the low income groups; it also envisages a rail based mass transport system and development of four directional metropolitan passenger terminals, four freight complexes aid five-state bus terminuses; it introduces the concept of ‘Mixed Land Use’ and ‘Informal Sector’; it provides for the conservation of the natural heritage and environment in the form of the ridge and the river and development of large areas for recreation and sports, at present level; space standards have been extensively modified to suit requirements of the community and also to conserve land as well as to create environment for better quality of life; it identifies 11 rural growth centres for provision of higher level education, health and other facilities; it also provides for a systematic development code with b strong monitor unit.

Over the years through its multi-dimensional activities, DDA has not only carved a place of pride for itself in the map of development authorities of the world but has also demonstrated that such an organization, its dedication and hard work, can deliver the goods in almost all spheres of urban activity, making city-building a professional and pragmatic exercise in the art of the possible. It is hoped that other Urban Development Authorities in the country would emulate the example of the DDA in solving the problems of human settlements and meeting the requirements of urban planning and development in providing a clean environment to enable the residents of their respective jurisdictions to lead a healthy life.

Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA)

The Haryana Urban Development Authority is a statutory body of the Haryana government constituted in the year 1977, for undertaking urban developments in the state of Haryana and for matters ancillary thereto. For this purpose, it has the power to acquire by way of purchase, transfer, exchange, hire, management, plan, development, and disposal of land and other property by carving out plots for residential, industrial, institutional, commercial, and other purposes, to carry out engineering, mining, and other operations, and to execute works in connection with supply of water, disposal of sewerage, control of pollution, etc.

Administrative Organization

The Haryana Urban Development Authority has the chief minister as its chairman, chief secretary to the government of Haryana as vice-chairman and a senior IAS officer as its chief administrator and some members including commissioner, Town and Country Planning. It has its headquarters at Panchkula. It is divided into different divisions and wings dealing with land acquisition; engineering; town planning and architecture; electricity; legal and monitoring; technical, vigilance and general administration, and accounts and audits. Administrators are posted at Gurgaon, Faridabad, and Panchkula who exercise supervision and control over estate officers of various urban estates within their respective jurisdictions.

Development Activities of HUDA

1. Urban Estates: HUDA has set up urban estates at various places, all over the state at district headquarters, sub-division headquarters and other potential areas, 21 cities in all in the state (these are Ambala, Panchkula, Jagadhri, Shahabad, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat, Rohtak, Bahadurgarh, Bhiwani, Jind, Hisar, Sirsa, Gurgaon, Rewari, Rozkameo, Hathin, Dharuhera, and Faridabad). Thus, Haryana Urban Development Authority has taken up the development activities in almost all parts of the state.
2. Development of Villages Encircled by Urban Development: It has been observed that in a number of urban estates, which are being developed, villages are encircled by the urban development and they continue as unplanned settlements devoid of all amenities of urban life. HUDA has therefore undertaken the phased development of such villages, for which the finances and the development cost, could form a part of the over all ‘External Development Cost’ of the project and ‘Internal Development Cost’ for the sector or sectors in which they are located.
3. Development of Mandi Township Areas: The development of various mandi-townships in the state of Haryana was previously being done by the Colonization Department. On the winding up of this department in 1987, 27 mandi township were divided into two parts, namely (i) mandi portion and ii township portion. The area falling within the mandies at various places were transferred to Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board with the responsibility for their development and the township areas were transferred to HUDA and made responsible for the development of undeveloped land and vacant plots. In addition, the liability on account of plots which had been sold out had also been transferred to it. The sold out areas were partially developed, i.e. the basic amenities such as water supply, sewerage, electrification and street lighting, etc. were not adequate and now such street services in these areas are to be completed by HUDA.
4. Development and Sale of Government Surplus Lands: In 1987–88, the government of Haryana had decided to dispose of the surplus government lands to increase its resources so as to utilize that amount towards the implementation of its various schemes and projects for the welfare of people of the State. HUDA was entrusted with the responsibility to sell such surplus government lands by carving out residential and commercial and industrial plots according to the requirement of particular city or place. Such plots were to be sold to the public through open auction and provided the required facilities such as water supply, sewerage, storm water drainage, electrification and street lighting, and horticulture works.
5. Other Development Activities: As per provision in the HUDA Act, the sectors in urban estates are required to be transferred to the municipal committee, after a period of five years. But it has generally been seen that due to financial constraints, the local bodies are not able to take over the sectors after the expiry of prescribed period. This puts a greater burden on the HUDA with regard to special repair of roads and maintenance of essential services, such as water supply, sewerage, and sewerage disposal. In some urban estates, the roads have been damaged very badly and cannot be repaired with patch work and require special repairs which involve a huge expenditure. The HUDA has, however, decided to repair the roads where 80 per cent of the houses have been constructed. The urban estates also require the construction of community buildings such as community centres in Jhanjghar, asaries, primary schools, police post, etc. and the provision of horticulture works, the development of green areas, such as green belts, parks, and road-side plantation. All these requirements need to be met by the HUDA expeditiously.

Achievements of HUDA

The HUDA proposed to spend Rs 28,357.20 lakhs in 1990–91, which was the highest in the history of HUDA. In spite of all hurdles and financial stringencies, the Authority during a span of 12 years had expanded its business activities and expenditure by about 4.5 times, From a humble expenditure of Rs 645.05 lacs in 1977–78, it has increased to Rs 28,357.20 in 1990–91.¹¹ While preparing HUDA’s budget, maximum consideration is given towards acquisition of new areas, in various urban estates, with the objective of providing developed plots to the public, so as to meet the increasing demand of urban population. Provision up to 60 per cent of the total spending is kept for acquisition of new areas, 20 per cent for completion of development works, and the remaining amount to meet pending liabilities. The minimum (not exceeding 2 per cent) of the total spending is provided for administrative expenditures. Provision of sufficient funds for various development activities shows that the Authority has devoted its full attention towards the speedy and planned development of urban areas and made necessary efforts for providing various facilities to the maximum extent expeditiously thus providing better quality of life to the citizens in various urban estates of Haryana. HUDA has taken up the development activities in almost all parts of the state and has so far floated one lakh residential plots on easy instalments for general public, which is no mean achievement.

In view of the achievement of the HUDA as outlined above, it can be rightly designated as ‘A catalyst of urban growth in the service of the masses’. The HUDA and the Town and Country Planning Department, Haryana, bring out a house journal named Basti (The Human Settlement) to apprise the public about its various activities.

Despite its creditable achievements, the HUDA is criticized on a number of points. It is contended that it has raised the prices of plots four to five times. HUDA justifies the increase due to the rising cost of land and development on a realistic basis. Second, the possession of plots is not delivered to the allottees for years on end, even when all the instalments of the price of the plots have been paid. This causes frustration which could be avoided by demarcating the plots and delivering these to the allottees as expeditiously as possible. Third, development works of providing roads, water supply, sewerage, electricity etc. are not started, much less completed in the various sectors where plots had been allotted long ago. That might be due to paucity of funds. But the citizens have the right to be provided with the minimum facilities referred to above before they can start the construction of their houses or industrial units. The HUDA should therefore lose no time in fulfilling this obligation. Fourth, the material used in construction is alleged to be of substandard quality. The vigilance cell of the HUDA needs to be vigilant enough to ensure that material of requisite quality is used by the contractors and the allottees are not fleeced. Fifth, there are complaints of poor maintenance of essential services and environment. The HUDA claims to be doing its best to reduce the grievances of its citizens in this regard. Sixth, allottees of plots carved out of lands, which have become a matter of dispute and litigation, are entitled to allotment of alternate plots and should not be denied this right. Disputes usually take years and years to be finally pronounced which might go against the HUDA, and the helpless allottees should not be made to suffer this agony for no fault of theirs. Lastly, corruption prevails in various establishments of the HUDA, especially estate offices where the building plans are not approved and the occupation certificates are not issued unless the officials concerned are obliged in cash or kind. The HUDA authorities should see to it that the public is not unnecessarily harassed for the favours which should be available to them as a right.

Conclusion

It has been observed that, by and large, the development authorities have shied away from planning the future development of existing built-up areas and have, instead, concentrated on planning and developing green-field areas. This has tended to further accentuate the structural, social, and cultural chasm between the older sections of our cities and the new suburbs. One could safely state that the development authorities, instead of bringing about harmony between the old and the new have contributed to enhancing a duality in our city structures through a faulty planning approach, standing aloof from the municipalities and accessibility to greater resources than the local bodies; the development authorities have thus generally invited the hostility of the municipalities.

The task force set up by the planning commission in 1983 for suggesting strengthening of the municipal bodies had inter alia made the suggestion that urban development authority should be merged into the municipal system. By and large, the thinking of all state governments, as also the central government, has been that local bodies need to be supplemented by, not supplanted by, functional agencies and development authorities which are not elected and are directly accountable to government.

The National Commission on Urbanization has suggested the constitution of regional planning authorities with representation on its governing council of the city corporations and town municipalities located within the region, and its chief executive appointed by the state government. Its planning decisions would have an element of participation by the constituent local bodies because of their representation on the governing council. While the regional planning authority should have wide powers of plan preparation and monitoring and evaluation of its implementation, it should not be the implementing agency. This work should be left to the local bodies. The commission has further suggested that in the matter of water supply and sewerage, either a similar arrangement may be made, or the head works, treatment system and the mains and out-falls may be constructed and maintained by the state public health engineering department, with internal distribution being the responsibility of the city corporation or town municipality. Apart from this, there should be no separate development authorities or functional organizations. Those which exist should be merged into the appropriate town municipality or city corporation.