Draw for DDA housing scheme held, 16,118 flats allotted

The DDA on Monday carried out the biggest draw of lots in its history under a new housing scheme and unveiled the names of over 16,100 lucky applicants, fulfilling their dreams to have a roof in Delhi.

The draw was held in nearby Noida to decide the fate of 7.5 lakh applications.

Applicants thronged cyber cafes as well as their home and office computers as the Delhi Development Authority put the results of the draw on its website in the evening. A DDA spokesperson said the list of successful applicants will also be published in major newspapers on Tuesday.

The draw was held in the morning in the Noida Sector-62 office of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), whose help was taken by the DDA for the computerised lottery which went on for two hours and 45 minutes.

However, thousands of hopefuls who gathered in front of the C-DAC office, were disappointed as they were neither allowed inside to watch the proceedings nor video screens were installed outside for them.

Many were heard complaining that they had come from far-off places after coming to know from media that screens will be installed for the public to watch the proceedings.

Some said that after last time's experience, when allegations of irregularities cropped up after the draw for its housing scheme, DDA should have been more transparent.

"Why it is shrouded in secrecy? It should have been more transparent," said S Pandey, an advocate whose son had applied for a flat under the scheme.

Asked about the allegations of irregularities during the last draw of lots, DDA officials said all checks and balances were in place and independent observers were there.

Only a handful of mediapersons were allowed into a hall on the first floor with a screen whereas the draw was held on the ground floor, watched by observers -- Prabhat Kumar of ICRISAT, B V Rao, editor of Governance Now, Udai Shankar, Director (Finance) in Ministry of Development of North East Region and C K Chaturvedi, Additional District Judge of Saket.

The DDA had earlier said that as there is limited space at the C-DAC premises, it will be difficult to accommodate everyone wishing to witness the draw. For the first time, it was held in Noida and not in the DDA headquarters here as the agency said C-DAC only has the equipments needed for the draw.

The flats, located in areas like Vasant Kunj, Mukherjee Nagar, Motia Khan, Jasola, Dwarka, Rohini, Narela, Jaffarabad, Kondli and Gharoli, were given under categories like economically weaker section (EWS), one-room tenement, one-bedroom, two-bedrooms and three-bedrooms. The prices ranged from Rs 9 lakh to Rs Rs 1.12 crore.

The scheme was launched on November 25, 2010.

"An allotment letter will be issued within next 15 days to all successful allottees," an official said.

Allottees will have to attend the DDA Office with all original documents to verify the genuineness of the documents as well as of the applicants.

"It is only after verification of the genuineness of the documents and of the applicants that the demand letter will be issued to the successful allottees.

"After the demand letter has been issued, 180 days time would be given for submission of documents and payment of money, out of which 90 days will be without interest and additional 90 days with interest," an official said.

After submission of all the documents and the money by the applicant, possession processing will take about 60 days.

If any applicant would like to cancel or surrender his flat, the same can be done within one month with nominal charges.

Refund cheques to unsuccessful allottees will be issued by the end of April.

The first successful applicant was from EWS category who got allotment of a flat in Dwarka.

All citizens of India who do not own a house in Delhi were allowed to apply. For the first time both husband and wife were allowed to apply with the condition that the flat will be allotted to only one in case both are successful.

Having a permanent account number (PAN) and depositing money from one's own account had been made mandatory.

Various reservations were also provided under the scheme such as 17.5 per cent for scheduled castes, 7.5 per cent for scheduled tribes, one per cent for war widows, one per cent for physically challenged and one per cent for ex-servicemen.

All flats are on cash down and free-hold basis and in the scheme for all newly constructed flats maintenance charges for the next 30 years have been included in the cost.

Asked about the draw being held in Noida, officials said it was done as the number of applicants and the number of flats being allotted under the scheme was high as compared to earlier schemes. "C-DAC had better wherewithal and expertise to conduct the draw of such a magnitude," they said.

Outside the C-DAC building, a large number of police and PAC personnel were deployed while traffic was diverted in the area. Fire engines were parked to handle any eventuality while media vans were everywhere despite being unable to telecast live feed.