NEW DELHI: Seeing no relief coming from courts on the three crucial issues that have affected life in the Capital -- demolition of unauthorised constructions, commercialisation of residential areas and illegal operation of hawkers, the Standing Committee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Thursday passed three resolutions urging the Delhi Government and the Centre to give relief to residents by either making changes in the present laws or by bringing in an ordinance.

Leader of the House Jitender Kochar tabled the three resolutions that were supported by all councillors, including the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.

Through the resolutions, the civic body urged the Centre as well as the State Government to apprise the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court about hardships that the people of Delhi were facing due to the orders passed by them and seek relaxation. The courts should be requested to postpone the ongoing demolition and sealing exercise till the submission of the report of the Khanna Committee formed by the Centre to look into these issues, they demanded.

In its resolution the Standing Committee said: "Since work is going on for framing of the Master Plan 2021, we urge that demolition action by the MCD on unauthorised properties under section 343, 344 and 345 A of the MCD building bylaws be kept on abeyance till the recommendations of the Khanna Committee report are submitted and incorporated in the Master Plan.

Till then, action should be taken only on the ongoing unauthorised constructions and encroachments on Government land." On the action for sealing of commercial units in residential areas, the resolution said implementation of the Supreme Court order would affect livelihood of lakhs of traders and their employees.

"Since many commercial units coming under the purview of the order were shops like those of barbers, confectioners, dry cleaners, general stores, chemist shops, educational institutes, nursing homes, coaching centres and bakeries that met the daily needs of common people, any action for sealing of them should be put on hold till the committee submits its report . In the resolution pertaining to hawkers, the resolution said: "A plan should be framed by the Commissioner to ensure that all the vendors making a living for themselves through unauthorised shops on pavements are not uprooted without working out an alternate source of livelihood for these people."

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