(a) Whether the Indian Government has decided to sell its former Embassy Building in Bonn (Germany); and
(b) if so, the reasons for the sale of this heritage building?
(a) Whether the Indian Government has decided to sell its former Embassy Building in Bonn (Germany); and
(b) if so, the reasons for the sale of this heritage building?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI ANAND SHARMA)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) The Embassy of India shifted from Bonn to Berlin in October 1999 following a decision of the German Government to shift the capital to Berlin. A temporary office dealing with residual consular and administrative matters was maintained in Bonn up to June 2002, and was wound up with the opening of the new Consulate General of India in Munich. Consequently, the former Indian Embassy building in Bonn has been lying vacant since July 2002. Since it was not found possible to put the building to an efficient use in a cost effective manner, the Government of India has decided to sell the property in the best interests of the Government. A number of other countries have already sold their diplomatic properties that were located in Bonn.