Despite a large number of owners of buildings with illegal constructions being booked by North Delhi Municipal Corporation, only 20% have witnessed some demolition action, allegedly owing to the lethargy and dodgy attitude of the building department officials.
An internal report of the civic body showed that out of 1,357 builders caught for illegal activities, demolition notices were issued in 1,194 cases. However, action was carried out in only 318 cases. This inaction of the department points towards an alleged connivance with the lawbreakers.
A senior corporation official said that Section 343 of Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, states that erection of any building or execution of any work without sanction or in violation of building bylaws should be demolished within 15 days. Failing this, the commissioner may himself order for demolition of the structure and the expenditure incurred on such action should be recovered from the violators.
Records maintained by the executive engineers of Keshavpuram, Rohini and Karol Bagh zones during 2017-18 showed that while there were 1,357 cases of unauthorised construction, sealing or demolition took place in only 318 cases.
In Keshavpuram zone, 362 properties were booked, but 252 cases (70%) witnessed no sealing or demolition. In Karol Bagh, out of 477 cases, no action took place in 47.5% violations. In Rohini zone, there were 518 instances of unauthorised construction, but no action was taken in 397 cases.
Overall, demolition or sealing orders were not executed in 876 cases, even though it is mandatory to carry them out within 15 days of issuance of demolition orders. Moreover, in 161 cases the department did not even pass demolition orders. “This inaction of the department points towards unlawful support to those people at whose instance unauthorised construction/erection of works were carried out,” the report stated.
The priority of action against booked properties depends on several factors, like court cases, dates, cutting water or electricity connections, said a senior official.
Councillors have repeatedly raised the issue of corruption in the building department of all three corporations in the House and standing committee meetings. In several instances, the councillors have alleged that once the junior engineers, assistant engineers and senior engineers get plum postings in the department, they are not shifted out based on the rotation policy.
