The Hindu : New Delhi News : MCD plans to blast illegal structures

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 11, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

MCD plans to blast illegal structures

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI: Taking yet another stride to deal with the issue of unauthorised constructions and illegal buildings in the Capital, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi is toying with the idea of engaging the services of explosive experts to demolish such structures through controlled blasting. Such a unique method is followed in a large number of countries abroad for bringing down huge buildings that have outlived their utility.

"I have taken up the matter with a number of experts and the feedback is quite positive. This is something that could solve the problem of demolition and the way it is handled in the Corporation presently. The civic body has to spend a lot of money on demolition of huge buildings and this method could bring down the cost and make this exercise much cheaper,'' the MCD Commissioner, Rakesh Mehta, informed.

Stating that certain guidelines could be adopted for undertaking such a venture, Mr. Mehta said only huge unauthorised constructions or illegal buildings could be targeted. The matter is still at the proposal stage but has been taken up with the Ordinance Factory Board also to explore the possibility of introducing such a technology in the Capital, something that is very common in many countries abroad. Mr. Mehta said the basic idea was to not only save time but also money and reduce the usage of men and material that go into the demolition of the buildings. There is a method of controlled explosions or blasting through which buildings are brought down in one go and one does not have to spend days on its demolitions.

Stating that the time had come to introduce innovative methods and latest technologies to deal with the increasing menace of unauthorised constructions in the Capital, Mr.Mehta said he would be also meeting the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) chairman, E. Sreedharan, to seek help and expertise of the DMRC in such a venture. The DMRC has undertaken controlled explosions in various parts of the Capital while constructing the underground portion of the Metro Rail especially in the Walled City area where such explosions took place even as high-rise buildings stood above the ground. If the required expertise is available in-house then we will not approach the foreign experts for this kind of a venture, he added.

Explaining further, Mr. Mehta said the idea was to undertake demolition of big buildings that have more than 60 per cent unauthorised construction through this method. At present, the Corporation is spending Rs. 40,000 per day on demolition of a building that included hiring of equipment. If the demolition continues for one month, one could well image the expenses that are incurred. Although, there is a provision in the law to recover the expenses incurred on demolition of a building from the party whose structure was being destroyed, it is hardly done.

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