The Hindu : No bungalow for Sheila

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

No bungalow for Sheila

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI, MARCH 16. Guess who is at the receiving end of official apathy and an indifferent administration. It is none other than the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, herself. Even as the Union Ministers and even senior Members of Parliament occupy sprawling bungalows in Lutyen's Delhi and the Delhi Lieutenant-Governor, Vijai Kapoor, has two palatial houses in the Capital, Ms. Dikshit has long been awaiting allotment of another bungalow for security reasons.

The Chief Minister, whose security was upgraded recently, had sought an additional house in view of the demanding nature of the top office. She is also understood to have written to Mr. Kapoor and placed on record that the adjoining bungalow to her AB-17 Mathura Road residence had been vacated three months ago and that it should be allotted to her. However, despite the security concerns, the Central Government has failed to respond to the request made three months ago. They are yet to find a suitable bungalow for Ms. Dikshit and refused to allot the adjoining one despite it being vacant and ready for allotment.

In fact, while forwarding the request, the Chief Minister's office had pointed out that some additional accommodation was required immediately for various purpose including meeting political groups, delegations, attending official work and holding important meetings at the residence. It was also stated that in view of the rising security concerns with regard to the Chief Minister, the present accommodation was proving to be inadequate as the Chief Minister has been forced to use her personal house and premises to meet and interact with the people. Moreover, if the Chief Minister desires to hold some official briefing of the Cabinet or officials at her residence, it cannot be held without disrupting the normal activity inside her house and throwing out of gear her personal family chores.

Interestingly, the Lieutenant-Governor has one official residence at 1 Motilal Nehru Marg and his other palatial house at Raj Nivas remains unoccupied. "The request for the adjoining bungalow was made nearly three months ago. The file is still pending with the Lieutenant-Governor and no favourable response has been forthcoming,'' a senior official remarked.

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