Responsibility of stopping illegal construction lies with civic bodies: Delhi government, ET RealEstate
NEW DELHI: Following complaints that local bodies were issuing directions to Delhi Police to stop illegal constructions, the home department of Delhi govt has issued an advisory stating that the primary responsibility of preventing unauthorised building activities lies with the civic agencies. It added that the land-owning agencies or local bodies should take necessary action and police were duty-bound to provide necessary support.
Sources said there were several incidents in the past when senior officials in civic agencies directed the local staff of Delhi Police to check illegal building activity or encroachment taking place in the area under their jurisdiction and take preventive action. The issue was brought before the senior officials of the home department by Delhi Police officers in a meeting a few days ago.
The department said it had got to know that local bodies, land-owning agencies and revenue authorities were issuing directions to Delhi Police to stop unauthorised construction and removal of encroachments, etc. “The primary responsibility to prevent unauthorised construction and removal of encroachments lies with the local bodies concerned, land-owning agencies and revenue authorities,” the advisory stated. “It is, therefore, advised that all local bodies, revenue authorities and land-owning departments may take necessary action accordingly. It is further reiterated that Delhi Police is duty-bound to provide necessary assistance during the said actions as per the requirement of all agencies concerned.” The order came at a time when 11 people have died in a building collapse in northeast Delhi’s Mustafabad. Preliminary investigations indicated illegal construction in the building.
The communication was sent to the principal secretary of the urban development department, PWD principal secretary, divisional commissioner, MCD commissioner, DDA chairman, NDMC chairman and the secretary of irrigation and flood control department.
The UD department issued a circular a few weeks ago stating that there was no provision requiring police nod for carrying out a construction activity. This was done following complaints of harassment against police personnel.
