The Hindu : New Delhi News : NDMC appoints nodal officer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 27, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

NDMC appoints nodal officer

Sandeep Joshi

Without any proper office set-up; to look into embassies' civic problems

NEW DELHI: Almost three years after the External Affairs Ministry asked the New Delhi Municipal Council to set up a nodal office to address the civic problems of the embassies and high commissions at Diplomatic Enclave in Chanakyapuri, the civic body has finally appointed a nodal officer but without any proper office set-up.

Taking a cue from the Liaison Office (Parliament House) formed to help solve the MPs' problems relating to civic agencies and government departments in Delhi, the External Affairs Ministry had in 2002 asked NDMC to set up a similar office in the Chanakyapuri area to ensure that the problems of all diplomatic missions could be addressed more efficiently under one roof.

Faced with the inefficient services of the civic body, various foreign missions had been demanding a separate liaison office in the Diplomatic Enclave for some time now. A forum of these missions had even written to the Union Government for the same. As the various countries have a separate liaison office for diplomatic missions, the Government had wanted to start this practice in India too.

However, NDMC sat on the proposal for over two years. It was only in mid-2004 after the External Affairs Ministry sent a stern reminder to the senior Council functionaries asking about the progress on the project that the civic body woke from its slumber. A meeting was held where it was decided to appoint a nodal officer instead of setting up a full-fledged nodal office.

"Initially it was decided to put the zonal officer of the Diplomatic Enclave on the job. But later the Director (Public Relations) was entrusted with the same. Interestingly, instead of posting a full-time official, the person already in charge of various other activities in the Council has been given the responsibility. The entire exercise seems to negate the idea proposed by the External Affairs Ministry," said a senior NDMC official.

For its part, NDMC has already informed all the 73 embassies and high commissions about the decision aimed at discussing "matters of mutual concern". It has also sought from them the names of their respective nodal officers with whom the civic body could remain in touch. The civic body is also planning to host a lunch for these nodal officers to promote interaction and know their civic problems.

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