The Indian Express 15.06.2013
Second diplomatic enclave: DDA says ready to allot land
DDA chose Dwarka for the diplomatic area due to its proximity to the airport. (Sumbul Farah)
The capital’s second diplomatic enclave, proposed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in 2007, is now ready for allotment.
According to sources in the DDA, land development in the
allocated area is nearly complete. The enclave only awaits further
direction from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which at present
is in talks with foreign missions to gauge the quantum of allocation
required for each country.
Only last month, senior officials from the DDA inspected the
developed diplomatic area in Sector 24, Dwarka. “DDA officials were
satisfied with the level of development in the new diplomatic area.
Roads have all been laid, along with sewage lines. The enclave is ready
for allocation,” a senior DDA official said.
So far, the MEA has received around 50 applications from
countries for land allotment. The requests range from space for
embassies to cultural centres. While at least 60 diplomatic missions are
housed in Chanakyapuri, embassies of at least 39 countries function out
of rented apartments, primarily in South Delhi.
Sources said these 39 countries would get top priority in the Dwarka diplomatic area.
The DDA has earmarked around 222 hectares of land for the
diplomatic area. Senior DDA officials said they were holding meetings
with the MEA and the Ministry of Urban Development to determine the
institutional requirement.
According to sources in the DDA, the rates for each allotment
would be finalised after discussing the issue with the Urban Development
(UD) Ministry.
“There are different rates for each allotment, depending on the
type of institution. For example, zonal rates would differ from rates
for charitable institutions. We are discussing this issue with the UD
Ministry,” a senior official said.
He said the MEA would soon communicate to the DDA the required allotment for each application in the new diplomatic area.
With little land left for allotment in Chanakyapuri, the MEA in 2007 had
requested the UD ministry for alternative areas to develop a new
diplomatic enclave. The UD ministry had picked Dwarka for the new
enclave citing the area’s proximity to the international airport, the
expanding metro network and the infrastructure upgrades that was already
underway there.
