Post Diwali, demolition drive to pick up speed

Those who have carried out illegal construction in the city are bound to have a tough time post Diwali.

Those who have carried out illegal construction in the city are bound to have a tough time post Diwali.

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The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which has been facing continuous flak for not taking action against illegal constructions, recently attributed it to shortage of police personnel.

However, Delhi Police commissioner has assured the civic agency that adequate police force will be provided whenever sealing drives or demolition action is to be carried out.

The zonal departments of the MCD on an average receive 25 complaints related to illegal construction everyday.

“During the meeting, members of the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee were upset over the fact that action against illegal construction was not being taken. They have asked us to start the sealing and demolition drive after Diwali when police force will be available. Those who have carried out illegal construction will not be spared. The police, too, have agreed to provide us force as and when required,” said a senior MCD official. A number of sealing and demolition programmes fixed by the civic agency had been stalled due to non-availability of police personnel.

Besides the area under its jurisdiction, the civic agency has been asked to initiate the drive on land under the jurisdiction of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). In the meeting, it was decided that close to 500 police personnel would be provided during the demolition drive.