NEW DELHI: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) initiated a citywide crackdown on illegal structures on Monday, demolishing or partially razing 26 properties and sealing 42 others, according to officials.
Additionally, the Delhi government’s Revenue department inspected 86 properties, raising the total number of inspections to 452 since June 5.
This effort comes in response to a series of tragedies prompted by deficiencies in civic infrastructures, breaches of fire safety regulations, and corruption.
The most tragic incident occurred on June 3, when a fire swept through a five-storey hotel, resulting in the deaths of 22 individuals, including a 16-year-old girl and foreign nationals from multiple countries.
Following directives from Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the MCD has taken stringent measures against violations of building bylaws, executing demolition actions on 123 properties and sealing 170 since June 1.
As per official data, the civic body has issued 106 show cause notices related to unauthorized constructions, 60 notices for sealing, and 42 demolition orders over the past eight days, bringing the total enforcement actions to 208.
In South Delhi, nine significant enforcement actions were carried out in areas like Adchini, Said-ul-Azaib, Freedom Fighter Colony, Savitri Nagar, Khirki Extension, and Chhattarpur Pahari. Since June 1, 56 properties across Said-ul-Azaib, Hauz Rani, Khirki Extension, Savitri Nagar, Begumpur, Chhattarpur, Sainik Farms, Khanpur, and Gautam Nagar have been targeted by the MCD for demolition and sealing.
The civic body is also conducting a survey to identify illegal commercial and residential constructions across all zones, with a warning of strict action continuing under the Master Plan-2021, Unified Building Bye-Laws-2016, and the DMC Act-1957.
Separately, a comprehensive safety enforcement initiative saw authorities inspecting 452 sites throughout the national capital over a four-day period to assess fire safety compliance, emergency preparedness, and adherence to building regulations.
During the drive, officials inspected 366 sites from June 5 to June 7, with an additional 86 properties checked on Monday, resulting in numerous show cause and closure notices against non-compliant establishments.
The inspections highlighted significant lapses, especially in budget hotels, guest houses, banquet halls, and commercial establishments, where deficiencies in fire safety systems and emergency protocols were observed.
In the Karol Bagh area of Central Delhi, several notable establishments were found operating without basic lifesaving measures.
Reported lapses included missing emergency exit plans, non-functional fire alarms, and inadequate water pipelines.
One establishment received an MCD closure notice and may face action under the Disaster Management Act, while another budget hotel was discovered operating a passenger lift without the necessary license.
Inspectors in Patel Nagar and Moti Nagar pointed out missing fire extinguishers, untrained staff, and illegal storage of diesel cans on rooftops in banquet halls and commercial properties.
Notices were also issued to several hotels and guest houses in Dwarka and Kapashera for exceeding the permitted number of rooms under their licenses.
In North Delhi’s GTB Nagar and Vijay Nagar, teams led by district officials uncovered properties operating without necessary fire no-objection certificates (NOCs) and mandatory municipal completion documents. Safety shortcomings were documented in restaurants, bars, and hotels as well.
The drive also led to the demolition of a structure on agricultural land in Jhatiara village and an illegal structure in Azadpur Mandi.
In the Dwarka and Kapashera sub-divisions of South West Delhi, multiple hotels and guest houses received show cause notices for operating more rooms than allowed as per their licenses.
Severe structural and safety deficiencies in various restaurants, bars, and hotels around GTB Nagar and Vijay Nagar were also highlighted.
