Noida: RWAs want freehold status for property, but without extra fee

NOIDA: RWA umbrella bodies in the twin cities have demanded a uniform policy that would give
ownership rights to residents over their properties, but sans any extra payment, in response to
the state government seeking suggestions on a proposal of converting leasehold land into
freehold in Gautam Budh Nagar.
As per the freehold system, an allottee gets outright ownership of the property. The leasehold
system gives an allottee the ownership of the property only for 90 years.
The Confederation of NCR Residents Welfare Associations (CONRWA) and Noida Citizens’
Forum have written to the principal secretary of the UP housing and urban planning department
in favour of outright ownership of properties. Other residents’ groups such as the Federation of
Noida Residents Welfare Associations (FONRWA) and Jan Shakti Sewa Samiti have also sent
their objections against the existing system. In fact, the matter has been pending with the state
government since 2018 when the Noida Authority board gave in-principal approval for freehold
property in the city.

According to PS Jain, president of CONRWA, nowhere does the UP Industrial Development Act,
1976, provide for leasehold properties of residents “and as such it is neither justified nor legal”.
CONRWA has filed a petition on the matter in the Allahabad high court.
AN Dhawan, former secretary-general of FONRWA, said, “On October 31, 2018, we organised a
dharna outside the Noida Authority office to press for our demand for freehold properties. Noida
MP Mahesh Sharma had addressed the gathering too. Consequently, the Authority agreed to
place on record our demand for freehold property. But since then, the residents have been
pursuing the matter.”
While the government is also mulling over a proposal for conversion of leasehold properties into
freehold ones based on the current circle rates and called for suggestions on the same, all the
residents’ bodies have unilaterally declined to make any additional payment.
“All the allottees in the seven towns covered by the industrial development authorities in UP,
including Noida and Greater Noida, have already made requisite payments from time to time,
taking into account the development charges. There is no logic whatsoever to bring out the
freehold policy on the basis of conversion charges, in accordance with the current circle rates,”
said Dhawan.