The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi BJP Councillors meet Jaipal Reddy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 14, 2007
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New Delhi

Delhi BJP Councillors meet Jaipal Reddy

Staff Reporter

Demand fresh plea before the apex court in construction issue

NEW DELHI: In the wake of the recent Supreme Court order putting a ban on construction beyond second floor in residential areas and notification of more roads in the Capital, a delegation of the Bharatiya Janata Party Councillors on Sunday submitted a memorandum to the Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy demanding that the Government file a review petition before the apex court in the matter.

Led by Leader of the House Subhash Arya, the delegation said the Urban Development Ministry had failed to effectively plead the case and place the facts before the Supreme Court. "The failure to present actual facts before the Court has led to the false impression that the MCD is exercising its own discretion in allowing permission for construction beyond the second floor. The factual position is that the permission was being given as per the provisions of the Master Plan for Delhi-2021," the delegation said.

The Councillors also argued that teams of senior officials from the Town Planning and Engineering Department had carried out physical verification of each and every shop before recommending notification of roads. "The MCD has complete record of these surveys, but the matter regarding notification of roads has also not been presented in the right manner leading to adverse directions from the Supreme Court. It is, therefore, imperative that the Solicitor General apprises the Court that the notification of roads was done after detailed surveys," said a Councillor.

The delegation also advocated implementation of a one-time amnesty scheme to provide relief to those houses and shops that are not covered under the Master Plan for Delhi-2021. The MCD Standing Committee had recently adopted a resolution seeking one-time amnesty scheme for the people of Delhi.

Besides, the delegation also sought extension of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006, enacted last year, putting a one-year moratorium on demolition action against un-authorised construction.

They demanded that a review petition be filed in the Supreme Court seeking extension of the Act.

The delegation comprised Delhi Mayor Arti Mehra and Standing Committee Chairman Vijender Gupta among others.

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