Three months ago, on a wintery February day in Delhi, a wall of an underconstructed building collapsed in Chattarpur extension in South Delhi. Four children — Monu (12), Divya (9), Gaurav (11) and Nikira (9) – who were playing in the vicinity fell victims. When they were rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre, they were declared dead en route. The wall in question, it was found out later, collapsed because of an illegal construction on the terrace. Public was furious and demanded answers. And so began the blame game: the Delhi Police (DP) pointed fingers at the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and vice versa.
This was not a stray incident by any chance. Sometimes, the casualities of such incidents have touched double digit figures. Like in the case of Lalita Park, a building that collapsed – due to a fifth floor being added illegally – in Laxmi Nagar, East Delhi, killing 67 people and injuring 73 people. But every time an illegal building collapses in Delhi, both the MCD and the DP start blaming each other.
The fact is: these illlegal constructions would not have been possible without a nexus between them.
The roles of the DP and the MCD in regard to illegal constructions are clearly defined in the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957. The MCD is most definitely responsible for illegal constructions. The Act assigns the functions related to sanction of a building plan, enforcement of building bylaws, sealing and demolition of unauthorised constructions, to name a few, to the MCD. But it also states that the DP is required to inform the MCD any anomaly that function against the act and the laws and rules under it. The DP is also required to assist municipal officers and municipal employees in the exercise of authority.
But reality is different. Since 2009, around 340 police officers and 383 MCD officials were found guilty in supporting illegal constructions and encroachments.
On 28 March, during the 2012 Budget sessions at Rajya Sabha , it was proved that the DP played a vital role in supporting illegal constructions that in turn resulted in building collapse killing innocents.
Documents in possession of Millennium Post reveal that BJP MP Jai Prakash Narayan Singh raised a question in Rajya Sabha about the nexus between the MCD and the DP when it comes illegal constructions in Delhi. In reply, Congress MP Mullappally Ramachandran admitted that the DP and the MCD hook up with each other for personal gains. Ramachandran also pointed out that between 2009 and 2012, the MCD had initiated regular departmental action against major and minor penalties by 383 officers found responsible for illegal constructions and illegal encroachments on government land. During the same period, the DP has also taken action against 340 police personnel found guilty of inaction or who were involved in illegal constructions.
This definitely points towards the fact that both the MCD and the DP collude among themselves. However, ironically, when a building collapses the police pass the buck on to the MCD.
For any illegal construction or encroachment, it is the responsibility of the DP to draw up a challan against the owner or the builder. However, what really happens in the case of illegal constructions is that once the police are informed, they contact the owner or the builder and strike a deal to let the former proceed with the construction. According to the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act of 1957, the DP is clearly breaking the law.
Earlier this year, the government had taken a call to remove all illegal constructions in the city to help in city planning. But in many areas, illegal constructions are still going on under the protection of the DP. Bribes exchange hands in lieu of permissions for constructions. People have also taken advantage of the MCD elections to carry on some illegal constructions inside houses.
When contacted, Rajan Bhagat, spokesperson of Delhi Police, refused to comment. Y S Maan, spokesperson of MCD also refused to comment on the MCD-DP nexus.
FACTS
- 10 properties in south Delhi were demolished in April, 2012.
- 34 illegal structures were demolished and seven were sealed in Feburary, 2012.
Since 2009, many buildings with illegal construction and encroachment collapsed causing several deaths.
November 2010: A building known as Lalita Park collapsed in Laxmi Nagar, East Delhi. The building housed about 200 people. 67 people were killed whereas 73 people were injured.
September 2011: A building in old Delhi that is known as Chandni Mahal collapses. Seven persons including four women and a child killed, 19 injured.
December 2011: A four-storey building at Uttam Nagar collapses. The building was 20 years old. Three persons including two women killed. The ongoing construction of the basement and an extra floor were proved as reason for the collapse.
February 2012: A building collapses in South Delhi's Chattarpur extension that leads to death of four children. An illegal construction on the terrace was provided as reason.
This was not a stray incident by any chance. Sometimes, the casualities of such incidents have touched double digit figures. Like in the case of Lalita Park, a building that collapsed – due to a fifth floor being added illegally – in Laxmi Nagar, East Delhi, killing 67 people and injuring 73 people. But every time an illegal building collapses in Delhi, both the MCD and the DP start blaming each other.
The fact is: these illlegal constructions would not have been possible without a nexus between them.
The roles of the DP and the MCD in regard to illegal constructions are clearly defined in the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957. The MCD is most definitely responsible for illegal constructions. The Act assigns the functions related to sanction of a building plan, enforcement of building bylaws, sealing and demolition of unauthorised constructions, to name a few, to the MCD. But it also states that the DP is required to inform the MCD any anomaly that function against the act and the laws and rules under it. The DP is also required to assist municipal officers and municipal employees in the exercise of authority.
But reality is different. Since 2009, around 340 police officers and 383 MCD officials were found guilty in supporting illegal constructions and encroachments.
On 28 March, during the 2012 Budget sessions at Rajya Sabha , it was proved that the DP played a vital role in supporting illegal constructions that in turn resulted in building collapse killing innocents.
Documents in possession of Millennium Post reveal that BJP MP Jai Prakash Narayan Singh raised a question in Rajya Sabha about the nexus between the MCD and the DP when it comes illegal constructions in Delhi. In reply, Congress MP Mullappally Ramachandran admitted that the DP and the MCD hook up with each other for personal gains. Ramachandran also pointed out that between 2009 and 2012, the MCD had initiated regular departmental action against major and minor penalties by 383 officers found responsible for illegal constructions and illegal encroachments on government land. During the same period, the DP has also taken action against 340 police personnel found guilty of inaction or who were involved in illegal constructions.
This definitely points towards the fact that both the MCD and the DP collude among themselves. However, ironically, when a building collapses the police pass the buck on to the MCD.
For any illegal construction or encroachment, it is the responsibility of the DP to draw up a challan against the owner or the builder. However, what really happens in the case of illegal constructions is that once the police are informed, they contact the owner or the builder and strike a deal to let the former proceed with the construction. According to the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act of 1957, the DP is clearly breaking the law.
Earlier this year, the government had taken a call to remove all illegal constructions in the city to help in city planning. But in many areas, illegal constructions are still going on under the protection of the DP. Bribes exchange hands in lieu of permissions for constructions. People have also taken advantage of the MCD elections to carry on some illegal constructions inside houses.
When contacted, Rajan Bhagat, spokesperson of Delhi Police, refused to comment. Y S Maan, spokesperson of MCD also refused to comment on the MCD-DP nexus.
FACTS
- 10 properties in south Delhi were demolished in April, 2012.
- 34 illegal structures were demolished and seven were sealed in Feburary, 2012.
Since 2009, many buildings with illegal construction and encroachment collapsed causing several deaths.
November 2010: A building known as Lalita Park collapsed in Laxmi Nagar, East Delhi. The building housed about 200 people. 67 people were killed whereas 73 people were injured.
September 2011: A building in old Delhi that is known as Chandni Mahal collapses. Seven persons including four women and a child killed, 19 injured.
December 2011: A four-storey building at Uttam Nagar collapses. The building was 20 years old. Three persons including two women killed. The ongoing construction of the basement and an extra floor were proved as reason for the collapse.
February 2012: A building collapses in South Delhi's Chattarpur extension that leads to death of four children. An illegal construction on the terrace was provided as reason.