CM, LG act tough to curb illegal operations, construction

New Delhi: While chief minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday ordered a special fire safety audit of hotels, commercial establishments and other public buildings in the city, lieutenant governor TS Sandhu directed that the buck would stop at local engineers, technical staff and oversight officials of Municipal Corporation of Delhi for any undetected illegal modifications or ongoing unauthorised construction in the existing residential or commercial buildings across the city.

Gupta said strict action would be taken against those found responsible wherever negligence or violations of rules were found, according to a statement issued by the chief minister’s office following a high-level meeting.

The directions came a day after a devastating fire at a B&B in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar claimed 21 lives. The fire quickly spread through the five-floor narrow building operating without a fire NOC with only one entry-exit point. Preliminary investigation has also revealed several serious safety-related shortcomings, said a senior official.

Ordering a detailed probe into the incident, CM said, “All necessary arrangements related to relief, treatment and rehabilitation will be ensured on priority so that every possible assistance can be provided to the affected families.”

Gupta has convened another meeting on Friday to discuss measures to prevent similar fire tragedies and curb unauthorised constructions and violations of fire safety standards. She said govt was fixing the accountability of the departments concerned and officials whose negligence forced govt to face unnecessary difficulties. “We will implement stricter rules to curb illegal constructions.”

LG has asked MCD to prepare a time-bound strategy for sealing or demolition to curb illegal residential and commercial vertical expansions. During a high-level review meeting of MCD, Sandhu emphasised executing a comprehensive action plan to target, halt and dismantle unauthorised constructions.

“LG asked for a regulatory framework that ensures strict enforcement of building bye-laws, penalises illegal constructions/expansions, and fixes absolute institutional accountability across all municipal zones, to be presented to his secretariat at the earliest,” said an official.

In the meeting, MCD also presented its comprehensive monsoon action plan, which prioritised desilting and maintenance of storm-water drains. LG directed that all road repairs and coverage of pavements should be completed before the monsoon.