Delhi's 80% buildings illegal, MCD tells HC

The MCD urged the Delhi High Court to allow demolitions of illegal structures in a phased manner.

The MCD on Wednesday urged the Delhi High Court to allow demolitions of illegal structures in a phased manner, saying 80 per cent of residential and commercial constructions in the capital were unauthorised.

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Asserting that it would not deviate from taking demolitions to their logical conclusion, the Corporation, however, sought the court's permission to initially target major violators responsible for mushrooming encroachments in the city.

In an affidavit filed before a division bench of Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma, the MCD contended that major violators included unauthorised constructions of properties housing big showrooms, retail shops, wholesale shops, restaurants and shopping malls.

In the status report submitted over the ongoing demolition drive which has generated much political heat, the MCD claimed it had initiated penalty proceedings, based on findings of the Vigilance Department, against 113 officials of the level of Junior Engineers and Assistant Engineers.