‘Need to check illegal nexus’

Some "corrupt" officials are harming the image of both the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the police, a senior leader of the civic body said on Friday.

Some "corrupt" officials are harming the image of both the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the police, a senior leader of the civic body said on Friday.

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The issue of unchecked growth of unauthorised construction in Delhi has come to the fore after the collapse of a multi-storeyed building in Lalita Park on Monday.

Chairman of the MCD Works Committee Jagdish Mamgain has urged Delhi Police commissioner Brijesh Kumar Gupta to cooperate with the civic agency in controlling unauthorised constructions and illegal encroachments.

"It is a general perception that illegal constructions and encroachments are not possible without the support of the local police and MCD employees. It is also said that they collect money for this favour. Due to some corrupt officials, both the agencies get a tainted and corrupt image," he said.

Mamgain added that sometimes there are complaints that the area beat constable passes the information of impending MCD action to the encroachers, giving them ample time to clear the area.

He said he hopes that the police officials indulging in shielding illegal construction or encroachment will be penalised.

"A vigilance inquiry can be set up by Delhi Police on the role of local police employees in relation to ongoing illegal constructions," he suggested.