Date:09/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/09/stories/2009010956650300.htm

New Delhi

MCD transfers ownership rights to Partition refugees

Staff Reporter

To cut short the piling losses in maintenance of properties

NEW DELHI: To cut short the piling losses in maintenance of residential and non-residential properties under the ownership of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi Slum Department, the MCD Standing Committee has passed a resolution transferring ownership rights of 15,000 such units to its allottees including licensees or legal heirs.

The announcement was made by MCD Standing Committee chairman Vijender Gupta.

Crores spent

According the MCD, the civic body was receiving very low amount rent from these units and had not been able to spend on their maintenance and development. These units are being used for residential, commercial and other use.

As per the latest data, in 2007-08 alone the MCD spent about Rs.1.41 crore on maintenance of these units while it has only been able to realise a rent of about Rs.49.42 lakh through them.

“Most of these properties are owned by poor sections of society and were allotted on a nominal fees at the time of Partition to the migrants and have continued to be on rental basis for the past 62 years. The allottees are also not able to properly maintain these properties because the ownership does not lie with them.

As a result, these properties are in a dilapidated state and 12 of them have been identified as dangerous to life and property of the inhabitants. The transfer of ownership will ensure that these properties are properly maintained by the owners,” he added.