MDDA VC sheds light on demolition

The Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) vice-chairman R Meenakshi Sundaram has clarified the details regarding the recent demolition of the non-compoundable portion of commercial property owned by journalist Ashok Pandey, who had come out with a sting operation purportedly showing the then personal secretary of the State Chief Minister seeking bribe from the liquor syndicate.

He informed that on December 22, 2005 the building map for a property number 26 at Tagorevilla of area 347.26 square metres with ground floor covered area of 174.04 square metres in the names of Dujendra Ram and Shailendra Ram along with Rakesh Ram Tripathi was approved by the authority. This approval was valid till November 22, 2011 and the construction was to be completed as per the map by the above mentioned date and a completion certificate was to be procured.

Ashok Pandey bought this property in 2006 with only 92.90 square metres of the plot being shown in the sale deed by the buyer and seller.In 2012, Tagorevilla resident SC Agrawal had complained in writing to the lokayukta, MDDA, SSP and district magistrate alleging harassement by Pandey and illegal construction on property number 26 at Tagorevilla.

The MDDA officials had inquired into the complaint and found it true following which a challan was issued to Pandey and show cause notices for demolition and stopping construction work was issued on October 25, 2012. Despite several notices being issued to stop work, Pandey continued construction against rules and didn’t get it compounded following which a notice was issued to Pandey again on October 3, 2010.

According to Sundaram, on November 22, 2013, Pandey presented the map for compounding but neither was any affidavit submitted with it regarding demolition of the non-compoundable portion nor was this portion found demolished at the site.After providing many opportunities to Pandey, the compounding map was cancelled and demolition orders were passed on July 10, 2015. This decision was taken as the construction on site was beyond the permitted limit; the construction was to be more than that shown in the compounding map; the non-compoundable portion was neither demolished by the owner nor was an affidavit for this submitted. 

As per this demolition order the illegal construction was to be demolished by the owner himself within 15 days after which Pandey was supposed to inform the authority about this on August 1. Since Pandey did neither this nor submitted an revised compounding map, and order was passed for demolition and Pandey was informed about it. The MDDA VC said that even after this order Pandey neither tried to get the construction compounded nor secured a stay from any court. He went to the media and attempted to paint the issue in a political colour.

Sundaram further added that the original map which expired in 2011 was for 174.04 square metres whereas construction had been carried out on 422.43 square metres area by Pandey. On August 4, the MDDA began demolition with Pandey opposing the action and verbally requesting that only the non-compoundable portion be demolished. From a humanitarian point of view, the authority demolished only the non-compoundable portion of the rear setback and Pandey was given a chance to submit an application, compounding map and affidavit for getting the construction compounded.However, Pandey has not submitted any written application  or revised compounding map to the authority so far, added Sundaram.