The Hindu : MCD chief slams de-sealing of properties

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 05, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

MCD chief slams de-sealing of properties

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, FEB. 4. Taking a strong note of the de-sealing of a large number of properties that were earlier sealed for unauthorised constructions, the Muncipal Commissioner, Rakesh Mehta, has sought an action taken report from all the 12 Zones and from the Additional Commissioners about these properties.

A number of such cases have been handed over to the Vigilance Department for inquiry and action against officials responsible for illegal de-sealing of such properties. It is reliably learnt there are hundreds of such properties across the Capital.

"This is an attempt to break the nexus between building mafia, politicians and engineers," said the source. On Tuesday one such unauthorisedly built commercial property, said to be owned by the father of a Delhi-based cricketer, was sealed. The dangerously built building in Gandhi Nagar area of East Delhi was de-sealed in December for a month after the owner gave an affidavit to MCD that he would himself demolish it. "But, this did not happen, following which the building was de-sealed, though several days after the expiry of the one-month deadline," the official said.

"Though in this case the building was sealed again as the matter was brought to the notice of the Commissioner, there are hundreds of commercial properties worth crores, which are initially de-sealed for a month and remains open for ever," he said. This is the typical modus operandi of the builder mafia-politician-engineer nexus. "Even in this case there was a lot of political pressure, ranging from MLAs to Ministers as the building was associated with that of a cricketer," he said.

As per law, top officials said, the property now was for demolition and the police would be asked to provide necessary force for the operation. "But, given the influence of the property owner, it is unlikely that it would happen in the near future. In fact, the owner has not honoured the affidavit in which he had said the unauthorised portion of the building would be demolished by himself," he said.

Sources said the Commissioner has asked officials to seal all unauthorised properties which were de-sealed for similar reasons and steps be initiated to demolish them with immediate effect. Officials said the focus was now on commercial properties and not residential ones.

Directions have also been issued to stop on-going unauthorised constructions, especially in market places and commercial centres. Officials have been asked to submit a report to their bosses at regular intervals. Such a step has been taken by the Municipal Commissioner as there were reports of large-scale unauthorised constructions particularly in Karol Bagh, Pahar Ganj, Greater Kailash, South Extension, Kalkaji, Rajinder Nagar, Patel Nagar, Gandhi Nagar and Madhuban Chowk.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi