Hindustan Times 08.12.2010
MCD notices for 638 illegal buildings: Turn legal or be demolishedOn Tuesday, as part of its crackdown on illegal constructions in the city, the MCD issued notices to owners of 638 buildings in East Delhi. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has asked the owners to conduct a structural safety check of their buildings and apply to get them regularised. On Monday, HT had reported that MCD will allow illegally built, but structurally sound, buildings, to be legalised after paying a fee to the MCD.
The civic body launched its demolition drive against illegal constructions soon after the Lalita Park house collapse on November 15, which killed 70 people and injured 81.
“We have identified 638 buildings in Shahdara (south) zone and have sent notices to them. These buildings have been constructed illegally without getting a building plan sanctioned. We are giving them a chance to regularise them” said Yogender Chandolia, MCD standing committee chairman.
However, according to the civic agency a number of buildings that have been served notices are more than 15 metres high and the owners will have to demolish them. “All those buildings which are structurally unsafe will have to be demolished either by the owner or by the MCD,” added Chandolia. Structurally weak and dangerous buildings will be demolished by the demolition squad.
Similar notices have been sent to a number of buildings in Lalita Park. MCD began inspecting buildings in east Delhi after the Lalita park collapse. The civic agency had also decided in a meeting last week that they would allow structurally safe buildings to be regularised.
