With the deadline issued by the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee breathing down its neck, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to start sealing farmhouses and motels found for misusing spaces and unauthorised construction, a senior NMC official said.
During the proceedings of the Standing Committee, AAP's leader Vikas Goel raised the issue of motels and farmhouses, alleging "irregularity" in their operations. Replying to the question raised by AAP's leader, officials of the north corporation said notices were served to 56 farmhouses and motels in Narela Zone and six in Civil Line zone for misusing the spaces, unauthorised construction and for other related reason. It was also informed that SC appointed Monitoring Committee has fixed deadline to October 15 for submitting action report.
Some of the farmhouses and motels which were found for action are Jindal Garden, Katyal Garden, Bristal Farm, Luthra Farm, Tivoli Grand, Palm Green and others. Majority of these units are situated in areas at Narela, GT Karnal Road Alipur, Bakoli Village and Lampur Village among others.
Motels and party lawns in areas under South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), North Corporation are rampant and running while having "additional built-up areas, violating MCD and Green norms with impunity" and are still running without facing any action.
It may be noted that on September 2, the apex court appointed Monitoring Committee conducted an inspection of the farm houses and motels falling under the jurisdiction of South and North Delhi Municipal Corporations and noticed violations like unauthoriesd construction, misuse of properties, illegal air conditions pandals, shamiyanas, sheds on their premises and holding social functions without approval of the corporation. Folowing this, the committee had directed to both the corporations, directing them to seal all these within 48 hour after serving notices for defying rules.
As per estimates, 12000 such illegal pandals, shamiyana and illegal wedding venues exit in the capital along with national highways, causing huge traffic jams. What is worse is that majority of these party lawns are run on diesel generators and cause traffic jams on already busy roads. Since these party lawns do not have proper water connections, groundwater is illegally extracted and tankers could be seen moving in and out.
During the meeting, senior Congress leader Mukesh Goel also alleged that the revenues earned through parking charges and conversion charges were "unaccounted" and demanded explanation over it.
"As per the response given by the north corporation, Rs 1090.36 cr has been earned in conversion charges from 2006 till August 31, 2018 and Rs 274.04 cr from parking charges in the same period. I want to ask what happened to that money," he said.
Considering seriousnessof the issue, Standing Committee chairperson Veena Virmani directed officials to give a "proper reply" to his queries in the next meeting of the panel.