Coming down heavily on South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) for sitting on a proposal to build a multi-level parking in lajpat Nagar, the NGT has directed the corporation to fast-track the process. A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar told SDMC that if it wants to build a hospital in the area, then it should make arrangements for parking first. “lajpat Nagar doesn’t need any more hospitals. There are already many big hospitals in the area. If you want to build a hospital, then make arrangements for parking first,” observed the bench.
The SDMC had informed the bench about its plans to construct a 100-bed hospital in the area. When asked about the status of multi-level parking, the corporation said it was yet to identify a site. Pulling up the corporation for “sitting on” Rs120 crore given to it by lajpat Nagar shopkeepers in 2006 for construction of parking areas, the NGT gave it time till April to file an affidavit mentioning the site located in lajpat Nagar where the multi-level parking would be built.