Centre 'clear and firm' on anti-demolition law

If worse comes to the worst, the government will take appropriate steps in Parliament.

MCD authorities have told the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee that they would honour the Central notification allowing liberal mixed-land use in middle and lower-middle class colonies in the capital, a highly-placed source in the Union Urban Development Ministry said on Monday.

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His comments came in the wake of the Supreme Court's stinging observations on moves to allow commercial activities in numerous residential areas in the capital.

The source, who requested not to be named, also insisted the Centre was "clear and firm" about the law suspending MCD drives, except against encroachments, commercial activities in Delhi's posh colonies and liquor and hazardous material stores in residential zones, for a year.

"If worse comes to the worst, the government will take appropriate steps in Parliament," the source said when asked what measures the Centre would take in case its law failed judicial scrutiny.

Also, he said MCD authorities have "categorically" told the committee that they would abide by the Central notification on liberal mixed-land use.

He insisted no shop granted relief from MCD drives through the new law had been sealed or demolished so far.

"But shops that are on the wrong side even of the new law will have to go."

The source maintained that the legislation had been able to provide relief to 95 per cent of storeowners facing MCD action.