Delhi: Demolition drive against unauthorised construction in O-Zone area

New Delhi, Jun 12 (PTI) The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Friday carried out a demolition drive against unauthorised ongoing construction in the O-Zone area of north Delhi, officials said.

The action was taken at two under-construction properties in Wazirabad in North Delhi, covering about 550 and 300 square yards, respectively.

At the first site, measuring around 550 square yards, civic authorities demolished 25 reinforced concrete columns, cut the steel reinforcement and razed the boundary wall, officials said.

At the second property, spread across about 300 square yards, 18 columns were demolished, reinforcement bars were cut, and the boundary wall was removed as part of the drive.

According to officials, the structures were under construction,

and the action was carried out as part of the corporation’s ongoing efforts against unauthorised under-construction buildings in the O-Zone area.

The demolition was conducted with the assistance of local police and civic staff, they added.

Additionally, Delhi government authorities jointly inspected 51 sites across the national capital on Friday to check fire safety norms and building byelaw violations, taking the total count of inspected properties to 705 since June 5, officials said.

The MCD also carried out demolition action at 19 properties and sealed six premises on Friday as part of its drive against unauthorised constructions across the city, officials said.

The civic body also issued 43 show-cause notices related to unauthorised constructions and nine notices proposing sealing action during the day, they added.

In addition, nine demolition orders were issued on June 12.

According to the MCD officials, the civic body has so far carried out demolition action at 198 properties and sealed 212 premises till June 12 this year.

A total of 295 show-cause notices related to unauthorised constructions and 120 sealing show-cause notices have been issued so far, while 91 demolition orders have been passed, they said.

The action is part of the MCD’s ongoing enforcement measures against unauthorised constructions and violations of building norms in the national capital after back-to-back tragedies resulting in the death of at least 32 people in the national capital in a fortnight due to building collapse and building fire.

According to Delhi government officials, the West District recorded maximum compliance activity on Friday with 12 site visits. The inspection drive covered 10 in Outer North, 8 in North East, 7 in North District, 6 in South District, 4 in South East, and 1 each in Old Delhi, New Delhi, and South West districts, officials added.

Enforcement actions on June 12 led to the issuance of 36 notices to non-compliant properties, including 12 notices in the West District, 8 in the North East, 6 in the North, 3 each in South and North, 2 in Outer North, and 1 in the South East.

Additionally, demolition on one site was carried out during the day in the North district. Two properties were sealed in the South district.

Key violations detected during the inspections included structural additions without valid building plans, expired municipal licenses, blocked emergency exits, non-functional fire alarms, lack of mandatory fire NOCs, and absence of disaster management plans.

Several cases have been forwarded to the MCD for further legal action under the DMC Act. PTI VBH VBH MPL MPL