A massive sealing and demolition drive against illegal construction will be beginning in the Capital from Thursday. To begin with, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) will be initiating action against nearly 500 unauthorised constructions in areas within its limits.
Officials said a majority of illegal structures fall within the Rohini and Civil lines zones followed by Sadar Paharganj and City zones. Orders have been issued by Municipal Commissioner PK Gupta with special instructions to execute the action within 15 days with photographic evidence of sealed and demolished properties.
Deputy Commissioners of all six zones and officials of the building department have been instructed to execute the orders in their respective areas.
A senior official, who was present in the meeting headed by the Municipal Commissioner, said notices have already been sent to the defaulters after complaints were received by the Steering Committee appointed by the Delhi High Court to look into the matter of illegal construction in the Capital. Sources said that more than 250 properties fall within the Rohini and Civil lines zones.
“The report of action taken on each of these properties has to be filed within 15 days from the date of order. Further, it is mandatory to ensure photographic evidence of the demolition or sealing activities,” the official said, adding that it has been conveyed to the authorities that simply issuing notices to the property owners would not be considered as action taken.”"Sealing or demolition is a must in all these cases,” he added.
In order to ensure compliance of his orders, the Municipal Commissioner has further warned the officials of 'strict action', if they failed to execute the warranted action against the unauthorised properties.
It is noteworthy that the erstwhile MCD had assured the Delhi High Court that the nodal steering committee would ensure checking illegal construction in the Capital and would hold senior officials including the Zonal Deputy Commissioner responsible for any unauthorised construction or their failure to remove the same.