Indian Express 29.10.2010
Demolition drive to hit student areas in South Delhi
Tags : education, delhi, IIT Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Posted: Fri Oct 29 2010, 05:00 hrs
New Delhi: Due to their proximity to IIT Delhi and the Jawaharlal Nehru University, many areas like Lado Sarai, Ber Sarai, Katwaria Sarai and Munirka have become favourite haunts for students who come to the Capital in hordes to prepare for various entrance exams. But that may change soon, with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) all set to demolish unauthorised structures in these localities, starting Friday.
All structures that have been illegally constructed after 2007 will face the axe, official sources said, adding that their occupants will face eviction. Though the civic body was earlier unable to carry out the task due to the Commonwealth Games, it has now turned its attention to urbanised villages located across South Delhi.
“Illegal structures in areas such as Munirka, Basant Gaon, Lado Sarai, Shahpur Jat, Mehrauli, Ber Sarai and Katwaria Sarai, which were constructed after 2007, are liable to be demolished by the MCD,” a senior civic body official said. On Wednesday, three such structures in the MCD’s south zone were razed to the ground.
Commercial showrooms as well as residential buildings will be targeted, sources said, adding that the central zone of the MCD has already taken action against 48 such structures in its jurisdiction. However, structures constructed before 2007 will be spared.
MCD officials said though buildings constructed before 2007 have been granted protection under the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act for Urbanised Villages-2008, the ones built after that will face action. “Even properties in urbanised villages that have been given protection and were illegally constructed after 2007 will be demolished,” a senior MCD official said. Besides housing a large number of students, these areas in South Delhi also accommodate many coaching centres
