NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal's recent suggestion to use satellite imagery to detect illegal constructions and unauthorised buildings might not be an effective solution to the serious menace that has afflicted the Capital for decades.

Mr. Sibal's announcement that satellite imagery would help in detection of illegal constructions and unauthorised buildings across the Capital has come as a surprise to many and is being seen as something that is not practical. Even more surprising, the core group formed by AICC general secretary in-charge Delhi, Ashok Gehlot to monitor the ongoing demolition drive has taken upon itself the role of a technical committee that is yet to be formally announced and notified by Union Urban Development Ministry.

"Mr. Sibal's intentions could be good but it is not practically possible to implement such a thing in Delhi. When the entire system is corrupt and a strong nexus of builders, contractors, politicians and officials exists, it will not be possible to put in place such high-profile technologies to detect something that is already in the knowledge of this group,'' a senior official remarked.

Further, observers point out that aerial survey and digital mapping of the Capital has been carried out in the past but have been of little help to the authorities. For instance, for the past one decade, satellite imagery of unauthorised colonies has been carried out to assess the real situation and if such illegal colonies do exist in the areas where they are claimed to be. When the Delhi Assembly came into existence the number of unauthorised colonies stood at around 1,000. The satellite imagery has not helped the situation and deterred people from grabbing Government land and developing such illegal colonies. The fact is that the total number of unauthorised colonies has gone up from 1,000 more than 12 years ago to around 1,800 at present. "It is the mind-set of the people that needs to be changed. It is the system and the corrupt officials who need to be tamed. Unless that is done, nothing can happen. Even a junior engineer or his beldar or even the beat constable can tell you where illegal construction is taking place as they extort money from such people. One does not need satellite imagery to get a clear picture of this,'' another official remarked.

Though a three-member technical committee was formed to study all issues arising out of demolitions this past Monday, but the Union Urban Development Ministry had not notified the new committee and there was talk that the Ministry had only floated the three names but not approved them. There is also strong objection in the Congress over the inclusion of BJP South Delhi MP Vijay Kumar Malhotra as one of the members of the committee, something that is believed to have led to a re-thinking on the matter.

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