MCD demolishes 24 properties after Satya Niketan building collapse that killed 7

The MCD has demolished 24 properties and sealed seven illegal structures after the Satya Niketan collapse. The drive has widened scrutiny of unsafe PG hubs and unauthorised construction across Delhi.

In Short

• Five engineers, including a deputy commissioner, were suspended after the collapse
• Authorities ordered inspections in paying guest hubs violating height and floor norms
• Action covered all 12 civic zones, especially dense student accommodation localities

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has demolished 24 properties and sealed seven illegal structures since the five-storey building collapse in Satya Niketan that killed at least seven people, according to data updated till Tuesday. The action comes as the collapse put the spotlight on unauthorised construction in the city and drew criticism from the civic body.

The issue also led to the suspension of five engineers, including the deputy commissioner of the south zone. On Monday, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta met senior government and MCD officials and directed authorities to carry out inspection drives in paying guest accommodation hubs, especially in houses that have prima facie violated height and floor restrictions.

According to the report, the MCD on Monday demolished seven properties and sealed two others. It also issued 26 show-cause notices for unauthorised construction, four show-cause notices for sealing and 12 demolition orders across the national capital. On Tuesday, the corporation carried out demolition action against 17 properties and sealed five more in its drive against unauthorised construction. It also issued nine show-cause notices for unauthorised construction, two show-cause notices for sealing and 15 demolition orders, the report said.

MCD officials said action has been taken across all 12 zones of the civic body, particularly in Laxmi Nagar, Vishwas Nagar, Mukherjee Nagar, Jamia Nagar, Shaheen Bagh, Tilak Nagar, Karam Pura, Karol Bagh, Ramesh Nagar, Mansarovar Garden, Chandni Chowk and Nehru Vihar. Most of these areas have a substantial student population. The report said Sandhu directed the chief secretary to ensure that structural audits of all buildings in PG hubs are carried out within a week.

Officials said that between September 1 and 8, the MCD carried out demolition action against 48 properties and sealed 15 properties. During the same period, it issued 90 show-cause notices for unauthorised construction, 124 show-cause notices for sealing and 66 demolition orders.

From June 1 to August 31, the MCD demolished 959 properties and sealed 456 properties, while issuing 1,461 show-cause notices for unauthorised construction, 590 show-cause notices for sealing and 687 demolition orders.

Overall, between June 1 and September 8, the MCD carried out demolition action against 1,007 properties and sealed 471 others, and issued 1,551 show-cause notices for unauthorised construction, 714 show-cause notices for sealing and 753 demolition orders.

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