In September this year a News Report shook the residents of GK-I, already grappling with Traffic Jams on HRG Marg. GKRA and Block RWA WhatsApp Groups were abuzz, with irate residents complaining how will they ever reach home. The colony far exceeds saturation point and the proposed large hospital will simply choke the streets of entire GK-I. Not just the Hospital, ancillary services like Petty Vendors, beeline of Chemists, Guest Houses Relatives of Patients, Haphazardly Parked Cars, Taxis, Autos etc shall all plague the area.
GKRA called an emergency meeting and resolved to fight Tooth and Nail to stall this Purely Commercial Venture on a Land earmarked for Public Utility… For those who do not know the intricacies of the Law, a Private Hospital does not fall under Public Utility as it issues Dividend to its shareholders from its Profits and Lal Chand Trust, a Non-Profit Trust, as such is prohibited to enter into any commercial venture.
The two plots on which the proposed Hospital is being planned comes under MCD and are on a Perpetual Lease to Lal Chand Trust, a DLF family trust (therefore not Private Property). The Cizra / GK Site Plan clearly states that the Land Use of these Plots is Public Utility. Meaning it cannot be put to Commercial use and the Two entities namely DLF and Medanta that are collaborating are Commercial Entities. Whereas Lal Chand Trust cannot enter into any commercial venture, moreover Lal Chand Trust could not think of any meaningful Public Use on these Plots for 60 years.
GKRA delegations have met Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, Mayor Shelly Oberoi and Councillor Shikha Rai, and have written Letters to LG, Minister MoUD, Area MP Meenakshi Lekhi, Fire Services and Traffic Police. All attempts have met with Stoic Silence, repeated Calls and Reminders have been ignored or given Polite Lip Service. Putting it mildly, GK-I residents have been left to fend for themselves by Elected Representatives, for reasons best known to them or left to Public Imagination.
GKRA on its part has decided to seek Legal Opinion and has decided to take on the Giant Corporates who have the Money Power to Maneuver Past the Maze of Laws which only the Common Man fears. In a Democracy Public Opinion matters and if GK-I residents really want to save the remaining Tranquility of this Posh Neighbourhood, then they must step out of their WhasApp/Drawing room Activism and come out to strengthen the hands of their RWA to stall this Hospital for Private Profit.
