The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi Mayor writes to Union Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 05, 2008
ePaper

New Delhi

New Delhi

Delhi Mayor writes to Union Minister

Staff Reporter

On demolition of unauthorised floors

Also seeks PM’s intervention
Urges timely action in this regard

NEW DELHI: Mayor Arti Mehra on Friday wrote to Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy urging him to look into the issue of demolishing unauthorised fourth and fifth floors in Delhi and find a legally acceptable solution at the earliest.

Ms. Mehra has also sought the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister Sheila Diskhit and forwarded copies of the letter to them.

“The Municipal Corporation of Delhi is a statutory body created by an Act of Parliament. The Deliberative Wing is responsible for formulating or enabling other agencies to formulate laws for the welfare of citizens. It is in this capacity that the MCD has already passed a resolution that the Government should come out with an Amnesty Scheme or an Ordinance regularising all such illegal construction. Since the matter lies within the jurisdiction of the Union Urban Development Ministry, our plea is directed to them for taking timely action in this regard.”

Ms. Mehra said most people living on fourth and fifth floors were from the lower and middle classes who had purchased the flats since they could not afford to buy property on lower floors. “These people are being exposed to extreme weather by the unceasing demolition drive. Since the water supply of entire buildings is located on the top floor, demolition would also disrupt water supply to other floors.” The Mayor said it was ironical that the Master Plan for Delhi–2021 had provided exemption to farmhouses and banquet halls.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi