The ruling BJP in municipal corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Friday requested new urban development minister Kamal Nath to seriously look into the problems being faced by people in unauthorised colonies, unauthorised-regularised colonies and rural and urban villages in the city.

Among the measures needed to be taken is increasing the floor area ratio (FAR) in old residential properties to 100 per cent coverage and necessary amendments in the Delhi municipal corporation act to exempt people in such areas from house tax, leader of MCD House Subhash Arya told reporters.

He said former urban development minister Jaipal Reddy had announced that the centre gave its nod to a law that allows 100 per cent construction and sub-division of plots up to 250 square metres in unauthorised colonies.

"What was the purpose behind Reddy's announcements when unauthorised colonies are not yet regularised and sub-division of plots is not allowed legally there?" Arya asked.

"Unless the floor area ratio in old residential properties be increased to 100 per cent coverage, additional construction in those properties cannot be protected from demolition," he said. "Providing relief in terms of sub-division of plots without increasing the FAR is baseless."

He accused the Central and Delhi governments of taking only "half-hearted measures" so far in this regard.

The BJP leader demanded that the Urban Development Ministry should order DDA that with immediate effect that it should cancel the earlier FAR in old properties up to 300 sq yards and allow 100 per cent ground coverage with 15 metre height and FAR of 400 sq yards.

"Unless these steps are taken, sword of demolition will continue to hang over the heads of Delhiites," he said.

Arya said while Congress has met the Lt Governor to press that property tax should not be collected from unauthorised colonies, it did place a demand to Central and Delhi governments for necessary amendments in the DMC Act.

The BJP wants residential properties in unauthorised colonies as well as rural and urban villages to get exempted from property tax, he said.