The Hindu : New Delhi News : Centre, Delhi Govt. lock horns over mixed land use

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Tuesday, Sep 12, 2006
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Centre, Delhi Govt. lock horns over mixed land use

Staff Reporter

Centre against allowing liquor vends, banquet halls in residential areas

NEW DELHI: Even before the matter could be scrutinised by the Supreme Court, the Delhi Cabinet informally discussed the latest notification issued by the Union Urban Development Ministry on mixed land use and commercial streets terming it as "inadequate and full of discrepancies" and not in tune with the ground realities.

Indicating sharp differences between the Delhi Government and the Union Urban Development Ministry headed by Jaipal Reddy over the issue of amendments to the Master Plan for Delhi-2001, the Delhi Cabinet on Monday decided to send a "special note" to the Ministry expressing its concern over the failure to address the issues referred to by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in her letter to Mr. Reddy. The letter sent on September 4 had sought relaxed land use norms for nursing homes, banquet halls, liquor vends and other such activities in residential areas. She had sought inclusion of such activities in the proposals that were to be passed by the Delhi Development Authority and then duly notified by the Union Urban Development Ministry.

However, when the notification finally came on September 7, it did address certain issues raised by the Chief Minister but was firm on not allowing liquor vends and banquet halls in residential areas.

It is learnt that at Monday's Cabinet meeting it was observed that the decision of the Union Urban Development Ministry not to allow professional or any such activities in basements had upset the Delhi Government. It is understood that the Residents' Welfare Associations (RWAs) patronised by the Chief Minister's Office had made a representation to the Chief Minister's Office on the use of basements as a majority of the office-bearers of such RWAs include chartered accountants, lawyers, architects and other such professionals who stand affected by this decision.

It was also felt that the criteria outlined by the Ministry for nursing homes, clinics, pathological laboratories, X-ray machine centres and scooter and cycle repair shops were inadequate and needed to be amended keeping in mind the situation at the ground level. The Cabinet was upset that despite having made a representation to Mr. Reddy over an issue of utmost urgency, the concerns of the Delhi Government were not addressed.

However, refuting all such allegations, officials in the Union Urban Development Ministry accused the Delhi Government of indulging in a game of one-upmanship. Officials said: "it was unfortunate that the Congress Government in Delhi had sought to take on its own Government at the Centre without any basis and reason".

Pointing out major gaps in the Delhi Government's case, officials said the Government's reaction was too late and badly timed. "When public objections were invited after the issue of July 21 notification, the Delhi Government failed to file any objection or suggestion with the Board of Inquiry of DDA. Now they have suddenly woken up to the situation and are trying to score brownie points," said a senior official.

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