Urban Development Min may have final say on Floor Area Ratio issue

“The ministry is the competent government authority for suggesting a solution to the excess FAR issue. On Monday,we were going to seal flats that were in excess of the permissible FAR but Emaar MGF got a stay in this matter from the Appellate Tribunal of the MCD. We are now going to challenge this appeal,’’ said a DDA official.

The court had on Monday set aside and quashed the sealing order dated August 10,as no mandatory showcause notice was given to the appellant company. It had further stated that the sealing orders,issued by DDA’s building department,be treated as a showcause notice and Emaar MGF has now been given 15 days from Monday to file its reply with the joint director (building),DDA.

Meanwhile,according to DDA,the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) has rejected its proposal of issuing a conditional completion certificate for the Games Village flats. The commission has also asked DDA to first sort out the matter concerning the excess FAR as the overall FAR of the Village is more than the compoundable limit of 5 per cent as per provisions of Master Plan-2021.

“This (FAR) issue is delaying the process of handing over flats by Emaar MGF to its allottees. Also,the DDA cannot auction its share of the flats till the matter is sorted out,’’ said an official.

While submitting building plans to the DUAC,the land agency had also suggested that instead of sealing or demolishing the excess FAR,a penalty be imposed on the developer.

“This was done to protect third party interest as Emaar has already sold its portion of the flats. But now the ministry will only take a final decision on whether to seal or demolish the flats that are non-compoundable,or to levy a penalty on the developer instead,’’ added an official.