The Times of India        06.01.2011

NEW DELHI: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), on Wednesday, sealed properties of a municipal councillor belonging to the ruling BJP for alleged misuse of residential units for commercial purposes and demolished their fourth floors that were built illegally.

The fourth floors constructed illegally in two properties at South Extension of Kotla Mubarakpur councillor Ravinder Choudhary - who is also the chairman of central zone ward committee of MCD - were demolished by the officials of the building department of central zone with police help.

After the demolition, the remaining floors were sealed as the property was being allegedly misused. "While both these buildings were residential properties, they were being used as paying guest accommodation for girls; commercial accommodations were also found in these properties,'' said an MCD official. Choudhary, however, claimed that he was not the owner of either of the properties.

"The case against these properties was under hearing before the Lokayukta," added an official.

The civic body has faced flak over its failure to check the growth of unauthorized constructions after a building with illegal floors collapsed in east Delhi in November killing 71 people. It has since been taking action against misuse of properties and illegal structures.

The MCD also took demolition action against 16 more properties in various parts of central and south Delhi, including Tughlakabad Extension, Kotla Mubarakpur, Okhla Industrial Area, Shivalik Apartment, Kalkaji, Defence Colony, Sangam Vihar, Sunlight Colony, C R Park, Sant Nagar and Saroofa Mohalla.