STFs resurrected to rein in illegal construction

The AAP Government has set up 33 Special Task Forces (STFs) in all 11 districts to put an effective check on the illegal constructions mushrooming in the 

national Capital.  An order to this effect has been issued by the Divisional Commissioner on behalf of lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung. After setting up district-level task forces, the AAP Government has set up STFs at the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) level and made SDMs conveners of their respective STFs. The district task forces will monitor the STFs to ensure fairness in their functioning.  

According to a report, there are 10 lakh unauthorised constructions across the city. On an average, 400 to 500 complaints regarding unauthorised constructions are received by the Government daily at different levels.This is the second time that the Delhi Government is going to constitute STFs. The first time was during the tenure of erstwhile Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. The move was vehemently opposed by legislators as they feared that the STFs would harass Delhiites unnecessarily. The issue was also raised by them in Delhi legislative Assembly and finally the STFs were disbanded. 

Other members of the STFs would be an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Deputy Director and Executive Engineer of the Delhi Development Authority, Zonal MCD Commissioner, Executive Engineer of the PWD and MCD, Junior Engineer of the MCD and Block Development Officer of the local panchayat. 

The main thrust of the new STFs would be to gather intelligence about unauthorised constructions in their respective areas. The STFs will use high-tech satellite imaging services to spot any illegal constructions in their districts. 

The STFs would be required to immediately report any illegal construction to the land-owning agency concerned before getting FIRs registered against violators.  If any illegal construction is noticed, the STF would have to immediately bring it to the notice of the area police. The Government has also made Junior Engineers and Station House Officers responsible for any unauthorised constructions spotted in their respective areas. 

For better coordination, the STFs would meet on the 7th of every month and report the action taken against violators in their respective areas. 

The AAP Government had already constituted district-level STFs headed by a Deputy Commissioner to check authorized constructions across the city. 

A SDM recalled that the STFs formed during the Dikshit Government had been rendered powerless as they were hardly getting any support from either the police or the municipal bodies. “Each time the STF would initiate action against any violator, the local politicians would oppose this to appease their voters,” he said.

However, in a clear departure from the past, the AAP Government has reportedly decided to empower SDMs to take action against those indulging in illegal constructions in the Capital.