Eye on polls, leaders protest demolition

Residents who had been carrying out illegal construction on taking advantage of the enforcement of the model code of conduct got a rude shock on Wednesday.

Residents who had been carrying out illegal construction on taking advantage of the enforcement of the model code of conduct got a rude shock on Wednesday.

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The demolition squad of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) took action on 21 properties in south Delhi.

According to sources, with the municipal elections scheduled on April 15, there has been a lot of pressure on the executive wing of MCD not to demolish any property. “There is a lot of political pressure on us to go slow. But we have started the demolition drive and will continue to take action against such properties,” added the official.

The demolition, however, met stiff resistance from political leaders and residents. So much so that the police had to be called in to disperse the crowd that assembled at several places.

The south zone of the civic agency demolished properties in Saket, Sainik Farms, Malviya Nagar, Paryavaran Complex, Mehrauli and other areas.

“A number of property owners had carried out illegal construction thinking that due to model code of conduct, we would not take any action against them. But we will intensify our demolition drive and not spare anyone,” said a senior MCD official.

According to the civic agency, MCD has taken action against illegal construction in 50 properties, in the past seven days.

While at many areas, entire buildings have been demolished, at others, the squad has come down heavily on several floors.