New Delhi: A day after CM Rekha Gupta directed the immediate sealing of city buildings with unauthorised fifth floors, MCD Tuesday said its commissioner reiterated instructions for action against such ongoing illegal constructions.
The directive, experts said, raises questions over the effectiveness of the enforcement, as a similar crackdown announced by Delhi govt and MCD following the Said-ul-Ajaib building collapse on May 30 didn’t result in any major action on the ground.
Because of legal provisions governing unauthorised colonies, an MCD official said, adding, “Centre has conferred ownership rights in 1,500 unauthorised colonies on an ‘as-is-where-is’ basis, implementing the latest directive will be challenging.
If the rules make construction beyond these limits illegal, why is it being allowed in the first place?” he said, adding, “Govt should disclose how many buildings were sealed or demolished following the Said-ul-Ajaib collapse and Hauz Rani fire. On Tuesday, MCD carried out demolition action “in the interest of public safety” against building number 13, located next to building number 14 that collapsed in Satya Niketan Sunday. CMO posted on X, “The belongings of students inside the building (number 13) are being safely removed by Delhi Fire Service personnel.”
Further, Delhi Special Provisions Act protects certain unauthorised constructions. This raises the question of how such structures can be demolished. And why was the illegal construction at Satya Niketan not detected? Seven other local buildings were issued vacation notices.