By IANS
New Delhi : Delhi’s civic body wants the government to regularise illegally built fourth and fifth floors in over 4,000 properties in the capital after the urban development ministry froze the sealing of unauthorised construction.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday decided to meet Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy with the request to regularise illegal constructions in the properties in violation of the building bylaws.
“Delhi’s Master Plan for 2021 has regularised the construction of up to three floors. Over 4,000 properties have been left out with more constructions and we would urge the central government to notify their regularisation as well,” senior BJP councillor and Accounts Committee chairman Jagdish Mamgai told IANS.
The civic body would approach the Supreme Court next week, seeking permission to de-seal the sealed properties in view of the central government’s notification of Friday.
“Early next week, we will take up the matter with the apex court,” Mamgai said.
MCD Standing Committee chairman Vijender Gupta said the central government’s decision on the sealing would benefit only 3,500 properties.
But Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Saturday said the central government’s decision would help out several thousands of people including traders.
Over 100,000 properties facing closure stand to benefit from the urban development ministry’s Friday notification.
“Notwithstanding any judgement, decree, or order of court, steps shall be taken by the local authority, including de-sealing, to maintain status quo as on Jan 1, 2006, in respect of encroachment or unauthorised development,” the ministry said in a statement Friday.
The decision that has put the sealing operations targeting unauthorised constructions in abeyance till Dec 31, 2008 assumes significance in the wake of the fact that the Delhi assembly election is slated to be held by November this year.
The sealing drive was considered to be a major factor that led to the drubbing of the Congress, which is in majority in the assembly, in the civic poll in 2007.
The sealing drive in Delhi began in 1996, when the Supreme Court ordered closure of small industries in the residential areas by Dec 31, 1999. By 2000, only 39,000 units had been closed, leaving a vast bulk untouched.
In February 2006, the MCD started sealing commercial establishments in residential colonies, only to end the drive in May after the central government introduced a bill suspending sealing.
The law, however, did not go down well with the Supreme Court, which, in August 2006, termed it invalid and ordered the sealing to continue.
As traders under the banner of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) launched protests, the apex court gave relief to them by putting off sealing till Oct 31, 2006.
In November 2006, the government prepared a new master plan for the capital, allowing mixed land use, according to which shops on over 2,000 roads could function. The sealing of shops on roads not mentioned in the list started again on March 28, 2007.