DDA to stick to Centre’s carpet area rule after buyers reject ‘too small’ LIG flats

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has decided to stick to uniformity when it comes to construction area of various category flats this time around.

JP Agarwal, principal commissioner (land and housing), said the carpet area of all new constructions will be as per specification prescribed under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

From now on, each Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category flat will be built on 30sqm area, while Low Income Group (LIG) dwelling units will be build on 40-60sqm. A Middle Income Group (MIG) and Higher Income Group (HIG) flat will have carpet areas of 110sqm and 130sqm, respectively.

The move comes after DDA faced criticism because of small sized LIG flats, which were allotted during the 2014 housing scheme. Around 11, 000 allottees later had surrendered their units because they found them too small.

Later allegations surfaced that the authority had sold Janta or EWS flats as LIG flats after making slight modification in the constructions.

Agarwal admitted that one of the two rooms of LIG flats offered during the last scheme was too small. He added that the authority was making efforts to rectify past mistakes and planning accordingly.

“Even after three years, we are getting applications for cancellation of allotment. I sign 40-50 files seeking approval for cancellation every day,” he said.

The DDA, in order to to prevent the reoccurrence of such incidents, had also decided to stick to guidelines and conditions depending on the availability of land.

“A few EWS flats were converted into LIG flats after carrying out retrofitting and changes. We don’t want to go into the details of what led to the decision. Engineers and officials, at that time, must have used their best wisdom. Our endeavour is now that this problem should not come up again. In future, we will build flats with specific carpet area as per the guidelines of PMAY,’ said Agarwal.

The official said the DDA’s latest decision will benefit buyers. “The point is that small flats should not be built. If we follow guidelines and requirements of PMAY, this will be helpful for both consumers and authority,” he added.