Delhi govt acts against 1,046 illegal, unsafe properties after Satya Niketan tragedy

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has taken action against 1,046 properties over illegal construction and unsafe buildings between September 6 and October 10, averaging around 30 properties a day, according to the Chief Minister's Office on Sunday. The drive was intensified after a five-storey building, housing a PG, collapsed in south Delhi's Satya Niketan on September 6, killing seven people.On the directions of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the MCD stepped up action across all its 12 zones, the official statement said. During the period, 282 properties were sealed and 47 dangerous buildings were demolished as part of the campaign.Of the 1,046 properties against which action was taken, the highest number was in the Rohini zone at 158, followed by South at 121, Shahdara North at 115, and West, City-Sadar Paharganj and Shahdara South at 87 each. Karol Bagh recorded 85 such properties, Central 75, Civil Lines 63, Narela 62, Keshavpuram 61 and Najafgarh 45.Among the sealed properties, 87 were in the City-SP zone, 41 in Shahdara North and 27 in Shahdara South. Keshavpuram recorded 20 sealed properties, while the Central zone had 18, among others. The highest number of demolitions was recorded in Karol Bagh at 13, followed by West, Civil Lines and City-Sadar Paharganj with eight each. One or two dangerous buildings were demolished in several other zones, while no demolitions were recorded in Shahdara North and Central, the CMO said.After a building collapse in Seemapuri earlier this week that killed five people, authorities demolished an unsafe building in the area, the statement said. The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board also issued notices to three other houses. CM Gupta said the campaign against illegal construction and dangerous buildings would continue across all zones of Delhi and would not be limited to any particular locality, with the objective of ensuring compliance with building rules and reducing the risk of accidents.The action taken over the month followed two deadly building collapse incidents and covered all 12 MCD zones, with sealing and demolition carried out as part of the drive against illegal construction and unsafe structures.- Ends(with inputs from PTI)