NEW DELHI: Seeking his impleadment in the matter of demolition of unauthorised constructions and removal of encroachments on public land here, Delhi Mayor Satbir Singh on Tuesday moved the Delhi High Court seeking a series of directions to improve the civic and habitation conditions in the city.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma accepted his application and fixed April 5 as the date for hearing him in the matter.

In his petition, Mr. Singh sought directions from the Court for building shopping centres in each ward of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) so that the shopkeepers who were being displaced by the current sealing and demolition drive could be rehabilitated there.

He submitted that there was an urgent need for relaxation in the building by-laws to meet the requirements of each category of residents in the Capital in the changed circumstances.

A close surveillance needed to be kept over unauthorised conversion of agriculture land for residential and commercial purposes, as it was the root of all problems in the city, Mr. Singh submitted.

He urged the Court to direct the Delhi Government and other statutory agencies concerned to implement the statutory provisions strictly for removal of encroachments on government land in the city.

He further stated that the Government be directed to not to allow any new construction in violation of the building by-laws and that responsibility be fixed on nodal officers to be appointed for all violations.

The norm for making residential premises free of all commercial activities should be implemented strictly, the petition said.

He also sought setting up of a separate planning department for Delhi to suggest relocation of commercial establishments and formulate policies for a planned development of the city.

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