NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court's observation on Friday that "unauthorised constructions are going on in full swing in the Capital after passage of the so-called Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act 2006" might not be an exaggerated statement if one goes by the number of complaints the Municipal Corporation of Delhi control rooms are receiving every day regarding ongoing illegal constructions across the city. Latest data collected from the civic body's control rooms at Town Hall and zonal offices reveal that in the last week itself, more than 300 complaints regarding ongoing unauthorised constructions and encroachment on public land were received from across the Capital. Of these, 119 were registered at the control room set up at the MCD headquarters, while 189 were made at various zonal centres. On an average, the civic body is receiving around 40 to 50 complaints every day," informed a senior MCD official.

"The data proves that unauthorised constructions are going on unabatedly across the city. And this is not all, the MCD has failed to take action on these complaints, mainly citing the new Act that grants one-year moratorium on all demolition and sealing exercises," a senior MCD official said, adding that all plans for opening a special control room to monitor ongoing constructions in the Capital and setting up a separate task force to carry out drive against illegal structures were still in the pipeline.

They have also been getting complaints regarding their field staff demanding bribe and only targeting those who are refusing to pay "protection money", the official said. "After the Act came into force, there has been a spurt in illegal constructions. Even several Councillors have complained about illegal constructions in their areas."

At a recent Standing Committee meeting, the Councillors accused the civic body administration, particularly Municipal Commissioner A. K. Nigam, of having failed to check ongoing illegal constructions across the city.

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