To streamline the process of land acquisition and to simultaneously ensure that the landowners get a share in the developed land, the Delhi Development Authority is now actively considering "land pooling'' with about 16 per cent land return in the form of developed land-to-land owners on the model of New Mumbai.

A proposal to the effect was discussed at the DDA meeting on May 6. It was pointed out that as part of the work on Master Plan for Delhi 2021, a study on policy for development of land in the context of Delhi was assigned to the Association of Metropolitan Development Authorities (AMDA), which submitted its report in March 2003 that proposed this model.

The same was discussed in a number of meetings and in August 2003 draft regulations for land pooling were prepared. The draft regulations proposed a participatory framework and alternative to compulsory acquisition of land under Land Acquisition Act 1894.

The win-win scheme proposes in the draft regulations that the owners of agriculture land shall be entitled to receive one-eighth of developed land for residential use with proper services, which will be situated within three kilometres of their original lands. Also, the allottees of these returnable plots shall not be required to pay any land use conversion charges and development charges.

With a view to discourage fragmentation of lands and to encourage formation of associations or cooperatives of agriculture land owners, a bonus land return of 2.5 per cent over and above 12.5 per cent has been proposed to be granted for land pools of 40 hectare or 100 acres and above.

As the Ministry of Urban Development had desired that the process be initiated, a proposal was worked out. The proposal said that since Draft Master Plan for Delhi 2021 has projected that by the year 2021 about 20 to 24 lakh dwelling units would be required, after redevelopment and re-densification of existing urban area, there will still be a need to build about 12 lakh to 15 lakh units and undertake development of about 22,000 hectares of land. Moreover, between 50 and 55 per cent of the housing requirement would be for the urban poor in the form of houses of two rooms or less.

The proposal also said that in view of the experience of the past Master Plans, it is necessary that further urbanisation is taken up in partnership with the private sector including the land owners which will mitigate the problems association with the process of land acquisition and also speed up the process of development and the implementation of the Master Plan 2021.

Under the proposal 50 per cent of area taken up for development is required for city level infrastructure in the form of transportation, public and semi-public facilities, and industrial and commercial complexes. These activities are now proposed to be provided in "facilities corridors'' to be developed along Mass Rapid Transit System routes and major roads of 30 metres or more width.

The remaining are will be of gross residential use zone comprising housing and related internal roads, utilities, parks or green areas, local commercial areas and community facilities, which will now be developed to a large extent through the private sector including the land owners.