(IANS) Property owners in the capital Tuesday welcomed the Delhi governments move that will help them become members of the housing society sooner, though they demanded a reduction on the charges they will have to pay for the purpose.
The Delhi cabinet Monday approved an amendment to the Delhi Cooperative Societies Act that will benefit over 500,000 general power attorney (GPA) holders of flats and plots.
The Delhi Cooperative Societies Amendment Bill, 2006, will be tabled in the assembly soon. The amendment envisages that a person who has bought a plot or flat in a society on Power of Attorney may apply for a membership and shall be granted it by the committee within 30 days.
Hailing the decision, Rajesh Dokhwal, convenor of the United Residents Joint Action (URJA), a conglomerate of resident welfare associations (RWAs), said it was long overdue and will help in giving beneficiaries their rights as any other resident of a society.
The person who has sold a plot on GPA shall cease to be a member of the society from the date of sale, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had said adding the amendment has been incorporated on the request of GPA holders.
At the time of buying a plot or flat GPA owner is made to pay a heavy amount as entry fee, the money which is unaccounted for by the society management. Besides, the GPA owner has to pay 33 percent as fee for getting his property free-hold as compared to eight percent by the original member.
This should be reduced to eight percent for GPA holders too, Ritu Bhatia, secretary of an east Delhi RWA, said after a meeting of GPA holders in the capital Tuesday.
Residents also demanded a reduction in the government proposed entry fee of Rs.5,000. It should be reduced to Rs.100 as the GPA holder has already paid a heavy entry fee to the society at the time of buying the property, Bhatia added.
The residents said GPA holders were currently treated as outsiders and the amendment would change their status.