MCD took demolition action against 82 properties and sealed 43 properties since June 1Vibha SharmaNew Delhi: Municipal Corporation of Delhi has claimed that it has demolished 82 properties and sealed 43 properties since June 1, following a building collapse and a fire in Delhi.On Wednesday, 21 people lost their lives in a fire in a Hauz Rani B&B while on May 30 six people lost their lives in a deadly multi-storey building collapse in south Delhi’s Saidulajab area.Officials said the crackdown on unauthorised construction was happening following a direction from lieutenant governor TS Sandhu and chief minister Rekha Gupta.After the B&B blaze, MCD had identified 12 bed and breakfast (B&B) guesthouses operating in violation of building bye-laws in the same area during a joint survey. As many as 32 properties in Saidulajab and 9 properties in Khirki extension were also marked as violators.“On Friday, five B&B guesthouses were sealed. Among these were Green Residency, Venue Inn, Sky Inn and Mi Cassa Inn. Thereafter, one property was demolished and sealed in Khirki Extension,” an official said. Eight other properties in Saidulajab were also demolished and sealed.More sealing drives are being planned against properties in Saidulajab and Khirki Extension.“MCD also conducted demolition action against 12 properties for violating building bylaws in south zone, seven properties in Civil Lines zone and eight in Narela Zone since June 1. The drive was conducted by MCD teams, assisted by Delhi Police and bulldozers deployed to remove illegal structures,” an official said.To ensure that the issue is monitored, the areas are under constant vigil to identify any unauthorised construction and B&B guesthouse flouting regulations, officials said.“The perpetuity of any illegal construction or such activity is certainly going to be punished sternly by the MCD. In the days to follow, the demolition and sealing action would become stronger with stringent measures,” an official said.In Savitri Nagar, Sainik Farm and Khanpur, demolition and sealing action was undertaken against three properties. Also, three basements were sealed for running libraries in Gautam Nagar.MCD also claimed that it had issued more than 150 notices on unauthorised construction, sealing and demolition against properties for misuse.“The general public is also advised in their own interest not to indulge in such unauthorised construction or illegal activities, which are against the provisions of DMC Act-1957, Master Plan-2021 and Unified Building Bye-Laws-2016, keeping in view the repercussion of such acts i.e. demolition and sealing action by the MCD,” the civic body said.
