India asked to pay Rs 169 cr for using Manhattan building

New Delhi, Apr 16 (UNI) The Indian Government has been asked by the New York City district court to pay Rs 169.81 crore as property taxes and interest for the use of an Indian diplomatic building in Manhattan for non-official purposes, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

''We are in contact with the US State Department and with relevant entities within the UN system to find an acceptable solution,'' Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said in a written reply.

The Government had requested a favourable decision from the Court of Appeal, which was supported by the US State Department in its intervention during the court case, Mr Sharma added.

X X X PIPELINE: India will discuss issues relating to gas pipeline with the new government in Pakistan in the near future, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.

During the Foreign Secretary's visit to Iran last December, the Iranian Government was informed that India remains committed to the pipeline and other projects that are financially viable and in which security of supply is assured, he said.

X X X SOUTH ASIAN UNIVERSITY: The 2nd meeting of the inter-governmental steering committee meeting on setting up a project office for the South Asian University is scheduled to be held on May 1.

The meeting is expected to appoint an interim CEO to head the office coming up in the Capital, Mr Mukherjee said.

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