NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced on Saturday that the Delhi government’s revenue department has inspected 124 sites across various districts and issued multiple notices to tackle illegal construction activities.
This initiative comes in the wake of a tragic fire incident in Malviya Nagar that resulted in 21 fatalities and numerous injuries.
Gupta emphasized that the government is implementing a “zero-tolerance” policy towards unauthorized constructions, encroachments, and violations of fire safety regulations.
“We are not just taking immediate action but also establishing a long-term mechanism to prevent such hazardous constructions in the future. The government is also considering the introduction of a third-party insurance framework for buildings,” Gupta stated.
She explained that insurance companies would only provide coverage if the buildings meet structural safety and all mandatory safety standards.
On the second day of the sealing drive, various agencies undertook significant enforcement actions, including demolitions of illegal properties and sealing of non-compliant premises.
According to the revenue department, officials issued notices to offenders after examining 10 sites in the North District.
“Notices were also distributed after inspections in the East District (10 sites), West District (21 sites), South-West District (13 sites), and Central District (North) (10 sites). During evaluations of 30 sites in the South District, 11 premises were sealed and 19 show-cause notices were issued,” Gupta remarked.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) demolished 94 properties and sealed 114 between June 1 and June 6.
“Moreover, 84 show-cause notices for unauthorized construction, 41 sealing notices, and 33 demolition orders were issued,” she added.
The Chief Minister disclosed that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will initiate a special campaign to identify illegal constructions in buildings.
Following a thorough review, the DDA’s building department is set to launch an effort to identify structures that exhibit significant deviations from the approved building plans.
“If serious violations of approved plans are discovered, strict measures will be enforced according to regulations, including the potential removal and blacklisting of the involved architect,” Gupta noted.
The government’s aim is to ensure that no construction, commercial enterprise, or public facility operates in a manner that jeopardizes public safety and property.
