Delhiites don’t wait for govt nod to construct buildings

Despite the danger associated with unsafe buildings, the municipal corporations in the New Delhi are unable to convince people into getting their building plans sanctioned, reports Hamari Jamatia.

The year 2012 witnessed several instances of wall and building collapses that led to death in some cases.

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Yet, despite the danger associated with unsafe buildings, the municipal corporations are unable to convince people into getting their building plans sanctioned.

In recently released data by the north corporation, it has been found that only 1,179 applications were received at its headquarters, of which 662 were sanctioned.

In contrast, an estimated 1,200 properties are built in Delhi every month without taking permission.

In 2011, the unified MCD received 1,707 applications, of which 764 were sanctioned. The officials of east and south corporation have not given any concrete figures but claim they receive about 60 applications per month.

In September, the south corporation even held a camp to sanction building plans but it received just six applications on the first day.

Officials said the residents continue to build weak buildings either by bribing officials or by conducting the construction at night in a hurry.

“The rules dictating building plans sanction require a lot of documentation such as ownership details and date of subdivision of plots. So, many people are dissuaded by just looking at the application forms,” said a senior official.

Indeed, over the years, the number of people applying for sanctioning buildings seems to have decreased.

Compared to the 1,179 building plans received last year, in 2010, 6,411 applications were received, of which 5,342 were sanctioned.

To sort out this issue, the east corporation has started simplifying the process of building sanctioning.

The move is initiated especially for people living in unauthorised regularised colonies who face immense problems in getting approvals.

“The building plans sanction policies were made long back in 1977. These have become redundant and there is a need for newer laws,” said a senior official.

On December 12 last year, a wall collapse led to the death of five children in Dallupura.

The Lalita Park building collapse, however, remains the biggest such incident where 70 people were killed.