The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Thursday intensified its crackdown on unauthorised construction and dangerous buildings across the Capital, sealing 61 properties as enforcement teams carried out action in all 12 municipal zones. The drive has gathered pace following the collapse of a paying guest accommodation in Satya Niketan on September 6 that killed seven people and brought renewed attention to illegal construction and structural safety in the city.
The civic body said Thursday’s action included sealing 61 properties, carrying out demolition action at 10 locations and issuing 21 show-cause notices over unauthorised construction. Seven demolition orders were also passed. Officials said enforcement was being undertaken against dangerous buildings, illegal additions and properties violating provisions of the Master Plan of Delhi and building bye-laws.
Action spreads across Capital
The crackdown covered several parts of Delhi, with municipal teams targeting unauthorised structures and illegal additions identified during inspections. The MCD has said the enforcement campaign will continue and action will be taken against properties found violating construction norms.
The latest action follows an intensive enforcement exercise on Wednesday, when the civic body carried out 34 demolition actions across its 12 zones, sealed 17 properties, issued 22 show-cause notices and passed four demolition orders. On Tuesday, 17 properties were demolished and five others sealed. The figures underline the scale at which the civic body has accelerated enforcement since the Satya Niketan collapse.
Municipal teams have also focused on illegal additional floors, particularly fifth floors constructed in violation of permissible building norms. More than 50 such buildings have been identified across Delhi and notices are being served before further action is initiated.
PG buildings under scrutiny
Alongside the demolition and sealing drive, the MCD has launched a large-scale survey of paying guest accommodations across Delhi. More than 1,200 PG buildings accommodating around 24,000 people have already been identified as authorities seek to create a database and determine whether the properties comply with structural and building regulations.
The Satya Niketan tragedy has placed particular focus on neighbourhoods with large student populations, where residential properties are frequently converted into high-occupancy PG accommodations. Authorities are examining unauthorised floors, structural alterations and misuse of residential premises as part of the wider exercise.
The civic body has maintained that its campaign against unauthorised construction, misuse of properties and dangerous structures will be intensified further. The enforcement drive is also expected to examine responsibility for longstanding violations, amid questions over how illegal additions were allowed to come up and operate for years without effective municipal intervention.