New Delhi: The lower house of the Parliament on Friday passed the NCT of Delhi (Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Unauthorised Colonies) Bill, 2019.
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri presented the Bill in ongoing Winter session of Lok Sabha, seeking to provide a framework to recognise the property rights of persons living in unauthorised colonies in the national capital and also for granting rights of ownership or transfer or mortgages on the basis of Power of Attorney, Agreement to sale etc.
Presenting the Bill, the minister said the move will change the face of Delhi. Taking claim for efforts done, he said, “What could not be done in 11 years was being done in 30 days.” The minister informed the Parliament that the ownership will be given to nearly 40,000 people living in 1731 unauthorised colonies across Delhi.
The Bill defines people as a person with physical possession of property on the basis of a registered sale and deed or other documents. It also recognises the rights of legal heirs of residents. It has also made it clear that the Bill would be applicable for only those unauthosied colonies that have been notified by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
Puri said that the digital maps of unauthorised colonies will be uploaded by the end of this year and a portal will be created by December 16 for residents of colonies to apply for registration.
The minister said that nearly 75 help centres will be created by DDA. “If residents start coming as soon as the portal opens, the work on conferring property rights can be done in 15 days,” minister claimed.
Passing the Bill ahead of Delhi Assembly elections is expected to give benefit to the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). Giving ownership to the residents of unauthorsied colonies in Delhi was one of the key promises by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in 2015 Assembly elections.