Illegal properties in unauthorised colonies get a breather

July 23, 2015 12:00 am | Updated 05:43 am IST - NEW DELHI:

Illegal constructions that came up between March 31, 2002, and June 1, 2014, in unauthorised colonies and villages across the Capital will be given a breather, municipal leaders have said.

The buildings that were sealed by the civic bodies will now be unsealed, as per provisions of the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Amendment Bill, 2014, passed by Lok Sabha in December last year.

The Standing Committee of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation passed a resolution to this effect on Wednesday.

“Since the amendment gives protection to unauthorised constructions in certain areas till June 1, 2014, we will immediately unseal those properties. However, action against illegal building activity will continue,” said Standing Committee chairperson Mohan Bhardwaj.

However, officials said the civic body would have to examine the matter before unsealing any properties.

“We will have to ascertain all the facts before starting any action to unseal these properties,” said North Corporation Commissioner Pravin Kumar Gupta.

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation’s Standing Committee had given a similar relief to the unauthorised constructions through a resolution on Tuesday.

The East Delhi Municipal Corporation has already been unsealing the properties as per the Act, Mayor Harsh Deep Malhotra said.

“Since the amendment was notified, we have been acting on the applications by owners of the sealed properties to unseal the premises,” Mr. Malhotra said.

The Central Government had amended the Act that gave protection from demolition to illegal buildings in unauthorised colonies and villages till December 31, 2014, by extending the relief till 2017. The amendment also widened the scope of protection, including buildings constructed after March 31, 2002, till June 1, 2014.

Since the amendment gives protection to unauthorised constructions in certain areas till June 1, 2014, we will immediately unseal those properties. However, action against illegal building activity will continue

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