Illegal constructions: 60 cops transferred from Jamia Nagar

On Saturday, more than 60 policemen were transferred from the two-year-old Jamia Nagar police station, following complaints of rampant illegal construction in the area, reports Vijaita Singh.

On Saturday, more than 60 policemen were transferred from the two-year-old Jamia Nagar police station, following complaints of rampant illegal construction in the area.

HT Image

The transfers were initiated after the matter came to police commissioner Y. S. Dadwal’s notice.

In September this year, 14 policemen including the Station House Officer (SHO) at Neb Sarai were sent to district lines — a punishment posting — following complaints of unauthorised construction against them.

The civic agencies, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Delhi Development Authority (DDA), had reportedly written to the police about the illegal constructions in Jamia Nagar on more than one occasion.

Even the residents of the area had written a letter to the city’s Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna apprising him about the issue.

As per a Delhi High Court order “new constructions” are banned for 300 metres on both sides of the Yamuna river; Jamia Nagar falls on one of the sides.

Check posts and road barriers were put up at entry points in Jamia Nagar so that construction materials could not be carried inside.

“There were complaints of abetting unauthorised construction against a few policemen, the rest were transferred as they had completed their tenure,” said Virendra Singh Chail, additional commissioner of police (southeast).

The issue of illegal construction was brought to Dadwal’s notice two months ago after which the Station House Officer (SHO) was transferred.

“The illegal constructions sped up during the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. There is hardly any space to enter the by-lanes," said a resident, who did not want to be quoted.