Building outlaws on web

The MCD on Wednesday put online a list of 18,328 properties booked for unauthorised constructions over the past five years.

The MCD on Wednesday put online a list of 18,328 properties booked for unauthorised constructions over the past five years. Now the details of the list will be sent to the Delhi Jal Board and the power-distribution companies (NDPL, BSES) for withdrawing basic facilities to these buildings, in accordance with the high court's directions.

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NDPL and BSES officials said they would follow the court orders but the modalities of snapping power connections would have to be worked out with the MCD staff.

As the news spread, those with unauthorised contructions on their properties started making frantic calls to enquire whether their names figured on the list. With an increasing number of people logging on to check the status of their properties, the MCD website (www.mcdonline.gov.in) became painfully slow. (The list does not have the details of the politicians who came under the scanner following media reports of unauthorised constructions on their properties.)

MCD spokesperson D.C. Mathur said, "As per the court orders, the divisional commissioner will convene a meeting of all sub-registrars of assurances and apprise them of the order, so that action is taken by them on the information provided by the MCD."

While buying a property, a buyer has to visit the registrar's office for getting it registered. "It'll be the duty of the registrar to apprise the buyers of these properties, so that people refrain from such purchases," he said. "The list will be constantly updated as and when we detect and book more properties for illegal construction.”