The Hindu : New Delhi News : MCD chief seeks daily report on anti-encroachment drive

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Saturday, Sep 25, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

MCD chief seeks daily report on anti-encroachment drive

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 24. Unhappy with the slow progress of its anti-encroachment drive and action against misuse of residential properties for commercial purposes launched this week, the Municipal Commissioner, Rakesh Mehta, today `ordered' all the 12 Zonal Deputy Commissioners to submit a daily action taken report in this regard.

In his late evening office order, Mr. Mehta also asked the Deputy Commissioners to submit a detailed action plan on how they planned to tackle the "increasing menace of encroachment on public land" and "illegal conversion of residential properties into commercial buildings".

Such an order comes in the wake of reports that the drive, so far has been a non-starter and that the Zonal Deputy Commissioners along with the lower-level staff were not serious in effectively implementing the decisions taken by the Commissioner at a meeting here last week. Of the 62 properties listed in Defence Colony, not even 50 per cent have been sealed so far, while in remaining colonies necessary survey and action is yet to begin.

Warning that action would be taken against the officials concerned for non-compliance of the order, Mr. Mehta said his office of late has been flooded with a large number of complaints in this regard from across the Capital.

Referring to his field inspection, Mr. Mehta said: "I have observed that in market areas, shopkeepers generally extend their shops by grabbing a porting of the foot path in front of their shops, while the remaining portion is encroached upon by the illegal patriwalas, thus leaving no space for pedestrians." In residential areas, house owners grab the government land in both the front and rear side of their house, Mr. Mehta added.

"The Delhi Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary have shown great concern about the increasing menace of encroachment of public lands, unauthorised constructions and misuse of residential properties," he said.

Referring to his meeting with the Zonal Deputy Commissioners last week, wherein the decision to launch such a drive was taken, Mr. Mehta is learnt to have expressed his displeasure over its progress. He said that it was decided that each of the Deputy Commissioners would make a detailed action plan to get the public land freed from encroachment and take action against commercial buildings constructed illegally on residential plots.

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