North Delhi Municipal Corporation to step up drive against encroachments

NEW DELHI: The North Delhi Municipal Corporation is expected to start intensive drive against encroachers from next weekend.
Commissioner Varsha Joshi has asked junior engineers to do a survey of areas by Monday and identify the encroachments. "Thereafter we will talk to RWAs and request them to help in removing these," she said.
The civic agency is carrying mapping exercise to identify areas prone to encroachments and soon an action plan will be prepared of sites where such drives will be carried out in a phased manner.
The move came after the Supreme Court directed the civic authorities to take action against gardens, security guard cabins and other extensions done on pavement meant for pedestrians.
"Since the court has emphasised upon action in residential areas where footpaths are rampantly encroached for ramps and guard rooms, we decided to implement the drive in coordination with RWAs and market associations. We are holding meetings with these associations to spread the message and alarm such defaulters. Even after that if encroachments are found then we will surely demolish such constructions," standing committee chairman Jai Prakash said.
Meanwhile, the south corporation continued its encroachment removal drive at markets of Defence colony, New Friends Colony (CV Raman Road), Vasant Kunj, Garhi, Lado Sarai, PVR Saket, Press Enclave Road Malviya Nagar, Dwarka Sector 10, 11, 22 and surrounding residential areas on Friday.
"We confiscated the items kept on pavements by shopkeepers or removed extensions done on the roads. No relaxation was given to anyone," said a senior SDMC Official.
The court also said that in case some house owners again encroach upon the footpath - even after removal of the encroachment -then rules may be framed to discontinue municipal services like water, electricity, sewage to these houses.
The RWAs, however, blamed the civic agency for being selective in their action. MK Gupta of S-block RWA said that encroachments were removed from pavement on the main road facing their block. "The team didn't go to any other block such as B-block and pavement near the Archana Complex. We informed the deputy commissioner and requested him for action after sharing some pictures.," he said.