Demolished shelter an encroachment, ready to help affected: MCD

The MCD on Friday maintained that a temporary night shelter removed by it in the national capital, which left a number of people out in the cold, was an "illegal encroachment" but said it might make some alternative arrangement for them on "humanitarian grounds".

The MCD on Friday maintained that a temporary night shelter removed by it in the national capital, which left a number of people out in the cold, was an "illegal encroachment" but said it might make some alternative arrangement for them on "humanitarian grounds".

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The structure, put up by Delhi government officials in Pusa Road, was demolished by the civic agency on Tuesday.

The occupants of the shelter, mostly migrants doing odd jobs to earn a living, have been left shelterless and were living under the open sky in the bitter cold. Several non-governmental groups have flayed the MCD's move.

MCD spokesperson Deep Mathur said the shelter was an "illegal encroachment" on public land. "It was a traffic hazard, posing a threat to the occupants as well as the public," he said adding that no government agency or NGO sought permission from the MCD before erecting the structure.

Mayor Kanwar Sain said the shelter was an encroachment coming in the "right of way". He said the MCD was making alternative arrangements when shelters are removed for Commonwealth Games projects but it was not bound to do so when the structure is an encroachment coming in the right of way.

"However, on humanitarian grounds we may think of doing something for these people," Sain said.

The MCD has said the roundabouts in the area as well as the place from where the shelter has been removed will be beautified for the Commonwealth Games 2010.

The civic body is running 25 shelters for the homeless this winter.