Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday asserted that the Union government can reclaim leased lands before or after expiry of leases whenever public interest so requires, amid questions over the recent controversy over the eviction of Gymkhana Club.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the BRICS Urbanization Forum to be held in New Delhi on June 11-12, Khattar said rapid urbanization and growing scarcity of developable land have made such re-entry provisions increasingly important.
Khattar said: “The government has the right to reclaim leased lands when the public interest requires it,” declining to specify the nature of developments that may be proposed on these lands in the future.
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To be sure, the Centre, through the Land and Development Office (L&DO), manages 60,526 residential, commercial, industrial and institutional leases spread over 19,995 acres – about 5.5% of Delhi’s total land area.
These include prime locations in Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone such as Chanakyapuri, Jor Bagh, Golf Links, Sunder Nagar and Connaught Place, as well as rehabilitation colonies. Of the total leases, 1,430 are owned by institutions.
Khattar also said that the much-awaited master plan for Delhi is likely to be notified soon. The plan, whose mandatory review has been delayed for five years, requires only one final meeting with the Federal Interior Ministry before it can be approved.
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He said, “There are two or three simple suggestions from the Ministry of Interior. We will discuss them and hold a final meeting.”
The minister attributed the delay to Delhi’s complex administrative structure, which includes several agencies and civic authorities operating under different jurisdictions.
The National Capital Region (NCR) Master Plan, which has also been postponed, is similarly expected to be finalized soon.
Khattar said the meeting scheduled for June 16 will address the remaining objections and improve coordination between Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
He added that the regional plan will be given its “final form” while ensuring compliance with environmental standards and court directives.
Khattar was speaking ahead of the BRICS Urbanization Forum, where India will showcase key urban development initiatives, including the Central Vista redevelopment project and the new Parliament House.
