The Hindu       02.03.2017 

HC stops construction at illegal cremation ground

Grave issue:The “Chilla Gaon Shamshan Bhumi” sprung up in September 2016 on the Yamuna floodplain adjoining the main Delhi-U.P. Link Road.Special Arrangement  

Site located just 1 km from the Okhla Bird Sanctuary

The Delhi High Court has issued directions against further construction on an alleged illegal cremation ground coming up on the eco-sensitive Yamuna floodplains, just a kilometre away from the Okhla Bird Sanctuary.

Directing the civic agencies concerned to ensure that no more construction takes place, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva on Tuesday sought a response from the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) and also the police.

No role: EDMC

The court also directed the EDMC to remove a board put up at the site which gives the impression that the construction is being undertaken by the civic agency, even as it denied any role.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Mayur Kunj Residents’ Welfare Forum through P. J. B. Khorana. The plea highlighted how an illegal “cremation ground” named “Chilla Gaon Shamshan Bhumi” sprung up in September 2016 on the Yamuna floodplains adjoining the main Delhi-U.P. Link Road.

Petitioner’s counsel G. V. Rao said the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) claimed to have handed over the land in question to the municipal corporation years ago. The land now falls under the jurisdiction of the EDMC, which said it never granted any permission for a cremation ground.

RTI plea

Mr. Rao said the cremation ground violated Section 390 of Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act, 1957, since no permission was given for its establishment. Therefore, he added, the same is liable to be removed by the Commissioner under Section 391 of the Act.

In response to a Right To Information application by Mr. Khorana, the EDMC had said the cremation ground was not authorised by its Public Health Department.

The petition also stated that trees on the floodplains are being illegally felled, which in turn is devastating for the sensitive ecosystem.

The residents also said the new cremation ground was just “land encroachment”, as another cremation ground at Ghazipur located just 2-km away. The petition suspected role of the villagers in the “land grab attempt”.

The Hindu      02.03.2017  

Amnesty scheme boosts SDMC property tax coffers

Collection in south Delhi went up nearly three times

Property tax collection in south Delhi went up by about three times after an amnesty scheme was introduced for defaulters in November 2016.

According to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Rs. 169.68 crore was collected from 42,276 taxpayers from November 18, when the amnesty scheme came into effect, till February 28.

Late charges

In the same time frame in 2015-2016, the SDMC earned Rs. 56.59 crore from 16,845 taxpayers. The amnesty scheme, which waives late charges on property tax dues, has been extended till March 31.

Government agencies

In addition to an increase in collection from private property-owners, the SDMC collected Rs. 88 crore from government agencies — Rs. 47 crore from the Delhi Government’s Education Department, Rs. 15 crore from the BSES and Rs. 26 crore from the Indira Gandhi International Airport here.

The SDMC said in a statement on Wednesday that other government departments and agencies, including the police, paramilitary forces and hotels, would be coming forward to pay their pending property tax before the scheme ends.

In 2015-2016, the civic body had cracked down on property tax evaders, conducting surveys and mapping to identify the defaulters.

The SDMC had issued 1.53 lakh advisories, 2.10 lakh notices and 520 notices for prosecution, and attached 623 properties and 374 bank accounts.