DDA to now allocate vacant lands and community centres for COVID care

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will allocate vacant lands to hospitals and medical institutions to set up Covid care infrastructure with facilities on a temporary basis. According to a senior DDA official, the land-owning agency has received several requests from government institutions and private hospitals even in the wake of Delhi facing lack of oxygen beds and resources to treat COVID-19 patients.

Anil Baijal, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, approved the proposal, which was earlier sent to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, to relax some allotment rules. The plots are to be licensed for six months on subsidized charges. DDA’s vacant community halls and land will be now open to government organisations, non-government organisations, institutions, resident welfare associations, among others to set up Covid care infrastructure. The policy drafted by DDA dictates that its community centres can be used as Covid wards or care centres, outpatient departments, isolation facilities, medical storge facilities, etc. DDA established that the allotment will be done on a first-come first-served basis, and priority will be given to government and local bodies in the event of multiple requests for a site.