The Indian Express              27.06.2013

DDA sits on 2,300 EWS flats, sends team to US, UK to study low-cost housing

At a time when it is still to finalise a policy on allotment of 2,300 flats for the economically weaker section, the Delhi Development Authority, which is nowhere near its target of building 1 lakh low-cost housing units in three years, is sending a delegation to "study such housing models in the US and UK".

The delegation, which includes Congress and BJP leaders whose terms run out later this year, is scheduled to leave on Thursday on a 12-day trip.

Harsh Vardhan of the BJP, Subhash Chopra, Naseeb Singh and Jitender Kochar of the Congress, who are non-official members, and DDA officials such as Director (Works) and the OSD to the Vice-Chairman are part of this study group.

While DDA officials were silent on the trip, Harsh Vardhan said: "A delegation is being taken by DDA to study low-cost housing in US and UK for 12 days, which basically includes looking at pre-fab technology as a solution. Other issues like water and sewage treatment plants will also be looked into."

Another member, who didn't wish to be named, said: "The purpose of our visit is to study low-cost housing models in the US and UK and replicate them here. Housing for the poor is a very important function of the DDA and the trip has been organised to try and give this an impetus in Delhi." The member said there was official clearance for the trip.

Incidentally, there is no certainty whether any of these political leaders will continue to be non-official members of the DDA after the Assembly elections later this year.

Sources said non-official member, Subhash Chopra, was unwell and might not make it to US but would try to join the delegation in the UK. Jitender Kochar may also join later due to commitments, the sources said. DDA spokesperson Neemo Dhar said she was not aware of any such trip.