NEW DELHI: Even as panic prevails over the demolition and sealing drive in the Capital, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has pitched for a liberal land use policy in the new Master Plan for Delhi that is under preparation. She has also supported the cause of liquor vends, nursing homes, banquet halls, building material shops and areas having more than 70 per cent commercial activity in residential areas.

In a note submitted to Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy along with her one-page letter, Ms. Dikshit without making any mention of the sealing and demolition drive has stated that immediate attention needs to be paid to discourage "Inspector Raj'' and within norms give flexibility for a city whose needs both economic and social are growing rapidly.

Stating that the Delhi Development Authority's recent policy of auctioning land for schools would make things worse, the Chief Minister asserted that it was necessary to provide that education institutions function from residential areas of the Capital under the mixed land use. Supporting the cause of private investment in establishment of clinics, diagnostic centres, nursing homes and hospitals, the Chief Minister stated that that all nursing homes registered with the Delhi Government should be allowed to function from residential areas, nursing homes should be allowed on plots of 100 metres and above in regular and regularised unauthorised colonies, 50 metres in villages, special areas and rehabilitation colonies. All other health care activities identified under category public and semi-public, which are already permissible in the Mater Plan in residential zone, should be allowed in residential lands and buildings.

As for the liquor vends, the Chief Minister has stated that the city has a history of not only manufacturing spurious liquor, particularly in unauthorised colonies but also of smuggling from nearby States. Liquor vending activity is also permissible on the identified mixed land use streets in the approved/draft zone development plans of Zone "H'' and "A''.

"It is important therefore to ensure that this facility is appropriately provided for in the amended Master Plan. Closure of these liquor vends would entail annual loss of revenue to the tune of over Rs. 400 crores. It is necessary to keep in mind that in comparison with other metros like Mumbai and Bangalore, Delhi has a smaller number of liquor vends,'' the Chief Minister added. Referring to the closure of banquet halls in residential areas, Ms. Dikshit has urged the Union Urban Development Minister to consider permitting continuance of banquet halls in colonies other than A, B, C and D categories. Similarly, she has sought allowing building material shops in E, F, G, and H categories under mixed land use on 30-metre road.

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