Centre will look into Delhi Govt's land issues: Naidu tells CM Kejriwal

New Delhi, Jun 18: The Centre will soon convene a meeting on the issue of land availability for constructing school buildings and hospitals in Delhi.

Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu conveyed this to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal when the latter met him here today.

Kejriwal, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, met Naidu and discussed the issue of land availability for public utilities and services in the capital.

Kejriwal, who is having a running battle with the Centre over the issue of appointment of senior officials, said since the subject of land is not with Delhi Government, it is required to buy land for all public purposes.

According to sources, the Delhi Chief Minister told Naidu that the city government has to buy land for building schools and hospitals from Delhi Development Authority (DDA) whereas other states have full liberty and control over land.

Elaborating further, he said that introduction of more buses is the need of the hour to address the issues of congestion and air pollution in Delhi but there is no land for construction of bus depots.

Kejriwal said the Delhi government cannot afford to buy required land from DDA at prescribed rates and suggested that for larger public purposes, land be made available at nominal rates by amending relevant rules.

Naidu informed the Delhi Chief Minister that he was already seized of the matter and had held discussions with the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.

He said that, in principle, he was in favour of making land available at nominal rates for building schools and hospitals which are the basic needs of the people. Naidu said that he would soon convene a meeting of the Lt. Governor and all concerned in this regard.

PTI