NAREDCO welcomes DDA Green Development Area Policy to boost green development and curb pollution in Delhi

New Delhi: With the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has proposed to make modifications to the Master Plan-2021 for incorporating the Green Development Area Policy, the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) organised ‘Consultative Process on DDA Green Development Policy’ Hybrid event today.
 
While addressing the NAREDCO workshop, Ms. Manju Paul, Addl.  Commissioner, Planning, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), said, “The Green Development Area Policy is extremely important and DDA is very keen to implement it without any delay.”
 
Ms. Paul also appreciated the NAREDCO’s efforts in organising this consultation and indicated that the recommendations, as received would be put up to the board of inquiry and suggestions incorporated in the policy. She also indicated that the DDA would also invite NAREDCO for presenting their recommendations to the board of inquiry. The regulations will lay down a detailed procedure to ensure implementation of the policy.
 
Mr. Hitesh Vaidya, Director, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), highlighted that NIUA is an institution which  acts as a bridge to fill the gap between policy making and development. “With the help of DDA, we have already submitted the first draft of MPD 2041. We all want and wish that change to happen in Delhi for next generation we want to become a bridge between policy makers and implementing process. I look at this workshop not just to exchange ideas but all this become part of the master plan as well.”
 
Speaking during the inaugural session, Mr. Rajeev Talwar, Chairman, NAREDCO, said, “A huge number of people have invested in land and expected that a change will come in policy through which they will be able to monetise and give a direction to new development in the region. There are villagers, small developers and all other stakeholders expect change in policy for urban development.”
 
Mr. Talwar further adds, “During the COVID-19 lockdown, we have seen a huge migration in India and it became a human crisis. My view is that those who have ‘Pacca House’ over their heads did not need leave. People without houses had to leave and it created a human crisis. While we are discussing Green Development Area Policy, we need to think about all these aspects as well. For last 5-6 years, NAREDCO has been offering solutions for affordable housing as we felt that the same has been neglected for several years. The role of the policy making is to show the direction and we are thankful that this kind of a programme is going to provide inputs for better implementation of Green Development Policy. Urban development is important as we can fill in the gaps where there is a shortage of housing.” 
 
Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani, President, NAREDCO, lauded the NAREDCO efforts for holding this event and bringing together all the stakeholders to make sure the policy becomes operational well on time.
 
He thanked the entire real estate industry on behalf of NAREDCO for taking special interest in holding this event. “The DDA Green Development Area Policy is a great idea and a positive thought process you have brought on the table. In this direction, we are going to have a great future ahead for the capital region. This policy will go in long way in how we want the development and moreover, it will bring a paradigm shift in Delhi in terms of curbing vehicular pollution and push the real estate growth. I hope this policy becomes so visionary with all our efforts that our future generation can remember it and talk about it as a policy to change the dynamics in not only Delhi but entire national capital region.”
 
Mr. Gaurav Jain, Vice President (North) NAREDCO, said, “Once this policy came into public domain, we felt that something has come back what we have lost in the last so many years. The idea is to bring NIUA, Naredco and DDA on the same platform and aim for a sustained and planned development in the city.”
 
This one-day event brought together prominent policy decision-makers, developers, Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) representatives, and industry experts on a common platform to discuss and deliberate on current challenges and gaps in existing policy that need to be bridged, as well as come up with an implementable holistic action plan that leverages best practices with regard to policy reforms, legal construct and implementation framework.
 
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) proposed to make modifications to the Master Plan-2021 for incorporating the Green Development Area Policy under Section 11-A of DD Act 1957 and released a public notice announcing the same on 24th February 2021. The authority has requested for objections/suggestions to the policy to be shared within a period of Forty-Five (45) days (by 10th April 2021).

Summary Points of the Green Development Area Policy:
 
•         Green Belt –Agricultural land along the border of NCT of Delhi up to a depth of one peripheral revenue village boundary, wherever possible.
•         Low-Density Residential Area (LDRA) – Area under 23 identified villages falling in Urban Extension having concentration of farmhouses termed as Low-Density Residential Plots or LDRPs
•         The Policy will encourage ‘green development’, which shall be characterized by prescribed FAR, large wooded and landscaped areas, to:
•         Foster city-level hubs for green living and recreation, create green jobs and economies
•         Encourage production of food and other natural produce to improve food security and meet Horticultural needs
•         Create a regional environmental buffer, reduce impacts of air and noise pollution, urban heating
•         Improve predictability of rainfall and combat threat of desertification
 
During the consultation event, the esteemed set of panelists brainstormed ideas on providing a comprehensive framework defining permissible uses, activities mix and FAR for proposed uses/activities for green development. Special emphasis was given on providing environmentally sustainable development options to enable the landowners to achieve the economic value of lands as well as providing connectivity and infrastructure for physical and functional integration of the areas within and around the Green Development Area (GDA).