Shiela Dikshit expresses reservations on high-rises in Delhi

Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit today expressed her reservations on allowing high-rise buildings in the capital, saying that availability of power and water should be factored in before going ahead with it.

Responding to a question on Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath's recent comment that the capital should grow vertically, Dikshit said that she was not very keen about the idea.

"Personally I am not very keen on high-rises because Delhi has a very great sense of space," Dikshit told reporters.

She, however, added that taller buildings could come up in the outer regions of the capital.

"But yes, in the outer portions of Delhi where there is lot of vacant land and which is no longer being used for agriculture, agriculture activities are fading out, I am sure we can make (buildings there)," she commented.

Dikshit said that it had to be seen how the review of the Master Plan of Delhi shapes up. "Let us see how it comes along. Plan will be made and then opinions will be sought over it," she said.

The chief minister said that for creating taller buildings, power and water availability also had to be factored.

"We must have enough water. We must have enough power. There will be escalators which should be functioning. We also have to maintain greens," Dikshit said.