Delhi: MCD plans action against visibly dangerous buildings

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is planning to initiate action, including possible demolitions, against buildings found to be in a “visibly dangerous” condition during its survey of paying guest accommodations, officials aware of the matter said on Monday.

The civic body on Monday carried out 40 demolition actions and sealed eight properties, officials said.

The action comes after a five-storey building housing students in Delhi’s Satya Niketan collapsed last week, killing seven and leaving several injured.

“Owners will first be given an opportunity to demolish such structures voluntarily, failing which the MCD will take action to demolish them,” a senior civic official said.

So far, around 2,453 buildings operating as PG accommodations have been identified during the survey, with four found to be “visibly dangerous”, according to an MCD report. Officials said at least 25 buildings require major repair work, while more than 138 need minor repairs.

“Buildings requiring major repairs will have to get their structural strength audited and submit the audit report to the MCD,” the official said, adding that structures found to be visibly dangerous would not be granted any immunity.

Senior officials said the MCD is likely to issue orders for action against dangerous buildings identified during the survey, which is continuing across the national capital.

As part of its ongoing enforcement drive against dangerous and unauthorised buildings and violations of building norms across the city, the MCD carried out 40 demolition actions and sealed eight properties.

Fourteen demolition orders were also passed during the drive carried out across all 12 zones of the civic body, they said.

The MCD has stepped up enforcement action against dangerous buildings, unauthorised constructions and violations of the Master Plan of Delhi and building bye-laws following the recent building collapse in Satya Niketan.

Major demolition actions on Monday were carried out at T C Camp in Pandav Nagar, East Patel Nagar, Regharpura in Karol Bagh, Mata Rameshwari in Nehru Nagar and Naraina Industrial Area, Phase-I, according to an MCD release.

Action was also taken at East Vinod Nagar, Mayur Vihar Phase-II, Raghubarpura and Dharampura in Gandhi Nagar in the east zone, while a demolition drive was carried out at Malka Ganj in north Delhi, it said.

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On Sunday, the civic body had carried out 11 demolition actions and sealed four properties.

The MCD said it was continuing its survey of PG accommodation buildings across Delhi to prepare a database and assess compliance with applicable building norms and other statutory requirements.