Encroachments removed from Sujan Singh Park

In two separate operations, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the New Delhi Municipal Council carried out demolition action in the city on Thursday. While MCD demolished six properties in south Delhi, NDMC removed encroachments from about 30 of the 60 shops at Sujan Singh Park.

In two separate operations, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the New Delhi Municipal Council carried out demolition action in the city on Thursday. While MCD demolished six properties in south Delhi, NDMC removed encroachments from about 30 of the 60 shops at Sujan Singh Park.

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The shops had been sealed on January 7 following the setting up of a monitoring committee by the Supreme Court, to look into the 'misuse of properties order'.

NDMC sent its team to Sujan Singh Park's car repair market in the afternoon to remove the hoardings and awnings that had been built by the shopkeepers when the market was functional. NDMC officials overseeing the operation said proper orders had been prepared by the civic body for the demolition.

However, residents claimed that they have not been shown the order papers and that they have been singled out by NDMC. Their shops were sealed in January because according to the monitoring committee, the tenants of the property had been carrying out commercial activities, though it was only meant for residential use.

The shopkeepers are now waiting for the final decision in the matter by the monitoring committee. The committee had visited the Ambassador Hotel and the neighbouring area on Monday to check on them. However, today's demolition was ordered and carried out by NDMC.

The MCD, on the other hand, carried out demolition action in Sultanpur Colony, Freedom Fighter Colony and Arjun Nagar in south Delhi.

"These demolition actions have been carried out to deter unscrupulous builders from cheating innocent people by making false promises and concealing the actual status of buildings," said a senior MCD official.