India
Today: New Delhi: Thursday, 06 August 2015.
DDA allotted
land to Shrimali Foundation in 1996 to build an ayurvedic hospital in Pitampura
but it is still lying vacant.
Located in
North-West part of Delhi, three hectares of land was supposed to house an
ayurvedic hospital with 200 beds. However, the idea floated in 1996 is yet to
bear fruit because not a single stone has been laid though more than 18 years
have gone by.
In a reply to
an RTI, it has been revealed that the land allotted by the Delhi Development
Authority (DDA) to Dr Narain Dutt Shrimali Foundation in Pitampura for
construction of the ayurvedic hospital has been lying vacant.
It was
allotted for around Rs 3 crore 80 lakh, including the ground rent at that time.
According to sources, this is not an off case. Many such lands are lying
useless.
"There
is already a dearth of hospitals in the national Capital and this land is not
being utilised. When it was allotted for an ayurvedic hospital, then why no
action has been taken?" asked Rajhans Bansal who filed the RTI.
Surrounded by
a wall, the land has turned into a parking lot. When Mail Today visited the
site on Wednesday, there were a few cars parked on the opposite side from where
one enters it. "This land has been here for quite long. People visit and
hold deliberations but nothing happens," a local told Mail Today.
When Mail
Today contacted the foundation, its office-bearer Rajesh Gupta said, "We
are not aware. We sit in a different office and we don't have information about
that land".
DDA
spokesperson Neemo Dhar told Mail Today, "We had allotted the land to the
organisation. As per the process, if construction is not completed within the
prescribed time limit, then it will have to pay a fine and seek an extension.
As per our records, the latest deadline for completing the work is December
2015. They had asked for an extension in 2013-14 for which they paid a penalty
of Rs 6 lakh. They must have given the fine earlier also."
In 2005, the
DDA had to impose the mandatory condition of reserving 25 per cent beds for
free treatment of poor in 27 charitable institutions that was not obligatory
for several social and charitable institutions in Delhi.
The list included
Dr Narain Dutt Shrimali Foundation in Pitampura. Some others are Parmarth
Mission Hospital; Lala Munni Lal Mange Ram Charitable Trust, Paschimpuri; Manav
Sewarth Trust; Multan Sewa Samiti, Pitampura; Human Care Medical Trust, Dwarka;
Unique Hospital and Research Institute, Dwarka; Foundation of Applied Research
in Cancer; Khosla Medical Institute & Research Centre, Shalimar Bagh, etc.
Rule numbers
5 & 20 of Delhi Development Authority (Developed Land) Nazul Rules, 1981
provide for allotment of institutional land for various purposes like social,
cultural, religious and educational activities, etc. The allotment of
institutional land was divided into seven broad categories for (A) Hospitals
(b) Community Halls (c) Clubs (d) Engineering Colleges/Professional Educational
Institutes (e) Nursery, Private, Middle and Senior Secondary Schools (f)
Religious Institutes and (g) Other Residual Categories.
The mode of
disposal in respect of Hospitals, Community Halls, Clubs, Engineering
Colleges/Higher Professional Institutes is through public auction in which
everyone, including individuals, societies, companies, firms, trusts etc., can
participate.
Allotment to
religious (Societies) and other residual (Societies) categories will be in the
allotment mode but have to meet new guidelines. Allotment/disposal of land with
regard to schools is under review.
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