The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Friday launched demolition and sealing of unauthorised buildings in South Delhi, officials said. The action comes two days after a devastating blaze at a bed-and-breakfast facility in Hauz Rani area killed 21 people, including several foreign nationals.
According to officials, a demolition exercise has been initiated against unauthorised buildings and establishments in Sultanpur area near MG Road in Khanpur in MCD’s South zone. Similar action is likely to be taken up against such structures in Chirag Delhi area.
A demolition drive is also being conducted in some parts of Malviya Nagar.
According to officials, more than 40 properties have been identified for sealing in Saidulajab area over violation of building bye-laws. Besides, at least 12 bed-and-breakfast (B&B) facilities have been in flagged in Hauz Rani and Malviya Nagar areas.
Various commercial establishments, including several restaurants, in Saidulajab, Hauz Khas Village, and nearby South Delhi areas are also under the scanner.
Amid heavy security deployment, MCD officials on Friday began demolition and sealing of structures found violating building bye-laws and licence conditions, as part of an enforcement drive in parts of South zone.
Officials said a two-storey market complex being constructed on a farmhouse property in Ghitorni area near Sultanpur will be razed as part of the crackdown, as the land use of the property had been illegally changed by the owner. Several luxury outlets were planned to come up in the market complex.
“Heavy machinery, including excavators have been deployed for the demolition exercise," an official said.
“Two buildings have already been sealed in the Hauz Khas Village, six buildings have been identified in Saidulajab and will be sealed today, and few other buildings will be sealed in nearby areas," a senior MCD official said.
“Identified unauthorised establishments near Hauz Rani area, where the fire incident took place, will be sealed soon; we are waiting for their bed-and-breakfast licences to be revoked," he added.
According to officials, at least four MCD teams comprising multiple junior and assistant engineers have been deployed for the sealing exercise.
The move comes days after a deadly fire at a bed-and-breakfast facility in Malviya Nagar area claimed 21 lives, exposing large-scale violations such as operating beyond permitted capacity and absence of a sanctioned building plan, officials said.
On Thursday, the Delhi government constituted district-level and subdivision-level committees to inspect and initiate sealing action against establishments operating in violation of fire safety norms and building bye-laws.
According to the order, district-level committees — comprising district magistrate as chairperson, deputy commissioner (MCD), deputy commissioner of police, and the divisional fire officer — will coordinate a city-wide survey of illegal and unauthorised buildings and establishments violating fire safety norms and building byelaws.
According to the order, they will undertake inspections and sealing actions, prioritising buildings (G+5 and above and/or with basements) with commercial establishments — such as bed and breakfast places, hotels, restaurants, banquet halls, guest houses, hospitals, nursing homes, etc —and not having fire safety certificates.
The district magistrate, if required, may also invoke powers under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, for ensuring comprehensive action, it added.
