UDM ‘breather’ for unauthorised building from sealing, razing

Unauthorised residential buildings and commercial establishments, which include shops, boutiques and high-end designer furniture showrooms in rural and urbanised villages in the Capital, may soon get a relief and need not worry about sealings and demolition for another year. Moushumi Das Gupta reports.

Unauthorised residential buildings and commercial establishments, which include shops, boutiques and high-end designer furniture showrooms in rural and urbanised villages in the Capital, may soon get a relief and need not worry about sealings and demolition for another year.

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The Union Urban Development Ministry (UDM) is planning to bring in an ordinance to freeze sealing and demolition in the Capital for a year. “The ordinance will be in place in a fortnight,” said a senior ministry official.

The Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2009, that provided immunity from sealing and demolition had expired on December 31, 2010. Subsequently, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) restarted the sealing and demolition drive. “We are moving a cabinet note proposing an ordinance to extend the Delhi Laws (Special provisions) Act , 2009. The ordinance will be converted into an Act after its introduction and passage in the Budget session of Parliament in February,” said the official.

The ministry failed to bring in a Bill in Parliament to extend the moratorium following the pandemonium created by the opposition over the 2G spectrum scam. Designer hubs and boutiques in areas such as Shahpur Jat, Mehrauli, Munirka Gaon, Hauz Khas, Katwaria Sarai, Yusuf Sarai, among others will face action if the government fails to bring in an ordinance.

There are 200 rural villages and 180 urbanised villages, where commercial activities are being carried out. If the government fails to bring in an ordinance, shops running in these villages will be sealed by the MCD. The legislative wing of MCD is also planning to write to the Centre to bring in an ordinance to protect commercial establishments from sealing and demolition.