From Satya Niketan to Laxmi Nagar: MCD continues to demolish and enforce unsafe buildings | Today’s news

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has reportedly resumed controlled demolition of a building adjacent to the building that collapsed at Satya Niketan in Delhi on September 6.

Officials told PTI that the structure was demolished in a calibrated manner. Dust mitigation measures are also being taken at the site, news agency ANI said while sharing a video from the site on X.

The ongoing drive is part of a wider crackdown on unauthorized construction, illegal misuse of real estate and structurally unsafe buildings across Delhi that has intensified since the Satya Niketan collapse.

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The MCD is conducting a crackdown on unauthorized constructions and dangerous buildings, which includes the controlled demolition of adjacent structures. They also introduced measures to mitigate dust at demolition sites.

Following the tragic collapse of the paying guest accommodation at Satya Niketan, which claimed seven lives, enforcement intensified, prompting the MCD to assess and address unsafe properties across the city.

The MCD inspected 1,252 buildings for paying guests between September 7 and 9 and identified several buildings that required repairs and three were deemed unsafe, leading to the demolition of one building.

Yes, property owners should be worried as the MCD has been actively demolishing structures that have been in violation of building norms and has issued notices for further action, reflecting a strict enforcement stance.

MCD demolition drives took place in various areas including Laxmi Nagar, Jagatpuri, Pandav Nagar, Vishwas Nagar, Mukherjee Nagar and several others as part of their wider enforcement efforts.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Thursday continued its demolition and enforcement drive against unsafe buildings, unauthorized construction and violation of building norms in all 12 zones of the national capital.

Visuals from areas like Laxmi Nagar, Jagatpuri and Pandav Nagar, according to the report, showed civic teams carrying out demolition and enforcement actions against structures violating building norms.

In the last two to three days, the MCD teams also conducted drives in Vishwas Nagar, Mukherjee Nagar, Jamia Nagar, Shaheen Bagh, Tilak Nagar, Karam Pura, Karol Bagh, Ramesh Nagar, Mansarovar Garden, Chandni Chowk and Nehru Vihar and the drive is expected to continue there.

The move came days after the Paying Guest (PG) accommodation at Satya Niketan collapsed. The incident killed seven people and injured at least five.

MCD crackdown on illegal constructions

As part of the security assessment launched after the incident, the MCD inspected 1,252 Paying Buildings (PGs) between September 7 and 9. Of these, 39 were found to require minor repairs, nine required major repairs and three were found to be in an unsafe condition, one of which had already been demolished.

Official records show that between June 1 and September 9, the civic body carried out 1,053 demolition drives, sealed 491 properties and issued 2,316 show cause notices and 757 demolition notices as part of its enforcement drive across the city.

On September 9 alone, MCD teams carried out 34 demolition operations and 17 sealing operations across zones.

Six major demolition drives were carried out at Narela. A five-storey unauthorized building was demolished in the southern zone, while the central zone reported five demolitions. Three demolitions were carried out in Keshavpuram and Shahdara (North).

In West Zone, action was taken against unsafe properties in Deep Enclave, Part-II, Vikas Nagar, while in City-SP zone, four properties in Prem Nagar and Kala Mahal, Jama Masjid were demolished for unauthorized construction, ANI reported.

On the sealing front, Civil Lines Zone has closed four properties for misuse, including Vardhman Mall. A major demolition drive was also carried out in Sant Nagar A-1 Block Extension in the same zone.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has directed the MCD to undertake a city-wide crackdown on illegal constructions and conduct intensive checks on accommodation for paying guests, especially those suspected of violating the prescribed building and height norms.

Senior civic officials have also been directed to remain in place during enforcement operations.

The enforcement action is aimed at preventing risks for residents resulting from unauthorized construction, abuse of real estate and structurally dangerous buildings while ensuring compliance with building and civil regulations in the capital city.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)