The Pioneer 25.11.2010
Post survey, MCD to seal, demolish illegal buildingsStaff Reporter | New Delhi
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi will demolish or seal unauthorised portion of buildings in the Capital. The move of the civic agency came after the preliminary survey of the properties in Lalita Park area of East Delhi.
Municipal Commissioner KS Mehra on Wednesday said during the ongoing survey being undertaken by the MCD the height of buildings in approved, unauthorised and unauthorised residential colonies will be checked. It has been found that several property owners have raised their structures more than 15 meters’ height illegally, which will be demolished or sealed, said he.
“It has come in our notice that several buildings are more than 15 metres high, which is not permitted and they need to be demolished or sealed. The MCD will soon be taken action against them. The survey is still going on,” said he. The Commissioner further added the Chief Vigilance Officer has sought some more time to submit the enquiry report of the incident as several complications have come up during the course of investigation.
“CVO has seized some documents also and required a few more records, which is not available at the moment. To thoroughly probe the matter, he needs to know when the collapsed building was constructed and when it was regularised? How were responsible for that? After the investigation, appropriate action will be taken as per the recommendation of the CVO report,” Mehra also stated.
It was also said experts from Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) has collected some samples for testing, they will inspect structures in Laxmi Nagar again soon. “CBRI team will visit the area again including structural survey of the properties and following its recommendations, the action will be initiated. If one needs retrofitting or demolished, will be decided by MCD as per their suggestions,” the MCD official also said.
Meanwhile, it was also informed the sealing drive in Paharganj area against guest houses or hotels not having proper license to run business activities at their respective properties.
“I have received a representation from the owners of the guest houses and hotels of the area, they ask for more time to response to the show-cause notices issued to them. They have been given a week time. If they submit relevant documents to support their claim, they will be allowed to continue as per the law,” said Mehra after the standing committee meeting at the Town Hall.
The owners of those properties have been directed to make their case before Deputy Commissioner of Sadar Paharganj Zone with appropriate documents. On Tuesday, the civic body sealed three guest houses in the area after they failed to comply with the show cause notices issued to them by the MCD.
Earlier, Opposition party in Congress led by Leader of Opposition Jai Kishan Sharma demonstrated before Commissioner’s office in the afternoon. They were protesting against the delay in filing the CVO report of the Lalita Park incident. Sharma demanded the investigation should be completed as soon as possible and guilty must be punished.
