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DU Writes to PMO for Right to Land in North Campus

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In a recent letter to the PMO and other ministries, the University of Delhi (DU) has stated that the construction of high rise buildings in the North Campus area would be inimical to the varsity.

The University of Delhi wrote to the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence etc. stating that construction of high rise buildings and transferring the plot of land in North Campus to a private
player would be harmful to the varsity. Earlier this week, a letter sent to these ministries requested revoking of the transfer. It highlighted that a no-objection certificate was not obtained from the University, which is a prerequisite to building anything in the campus area. According to the Zonal Development Plan, no tall building can be constructed in the North Campus area of the University.
According to the University, the builder had also made false claims related to environmental clearance. The letter stated that the University should have been given the first right to acquire the land before the then government acquired it in 2001. This was because the land has a historical background and had originally belonged to the Ministry
of Defence. The land also falls under the boundaries of the area encompassing the North Campus of the University.
It was also noted that three hectares of land was acquired for public purposes by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in 2001. However, in 2008 DMRC utilised one hectare of land and transferred the rest to a private builder instead of offering the same to the University.
In a statement by Anil Aneja, Chairperson of Equal Opportunity Cell of the University, questions were raised on the proposal to construct a 39 storeyed building on the land. He told the Times of India, “The plans violate the Master Plan of Delhi, which states that no tall building shall be permitted in the North Campus area of the university. This will also violate the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and the building could become a nuisance for girl students as there are four women hostels in the proximity.”

(With inputs from The Times of India)

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat

Anoushka Sharma
[email protected]

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