In one of his first major decisions after assuming office, lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has directed the Delhi Police to hand over a plot to the Government for construction of a hospital, notwithstanding reservation by the force.
There has been a long-pending dispute between the Delhi Government and police over the 1,600-sq m plot in Pocket-4 of Bindapur in west Delhi.
Observing that no construction was carried out on the land — allotted on October 22, 1997 by DDA to set up a police post — the Delhi Government had approached the land agency reallocation of the plot to set up a 100-bed hospital. However, police had refused to vacate. In a directive issued on July 12, Jung accepted the Government's contention and asked the police to accept an adjacent plot of 1,000 sq m in exchange.
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, while addressing a rally in Bindapur on June 9, had announced her Government's decision to set up the hospital, heeding the demand of MlA Mukesh Sharma and locals.
Welcoming Jung's directive to police, Sharma, who is also Parliamentary Secretary to Dikshit, said the lt Governor's decision will pave the way for construction of the hospital in the area. The Health Department and Sharma had approached the DDA last year seeking possession of the plot to Delhi Government for the proposed hospital.
A meeting of the screening committee of the land agency was conducted on December 20 last year, while accepting the request it was decided to give an adjacent plot to the Delhi Police. Despite some conflicts within the department, officials said that the plot will be handed over to Delhi Government on Monday.
Sharma, who had approached DDA and lt Governor's office several times in the past one year seeking hand over of the plot of land by police, said setting up of the hospital will facilitate proper health care facilities for the residents of Bindapur and adjoining areas.