• Source:JND

One more injured person in the Malviya Nagar hotel fire incident succumbed while undergoing treatment on Sunday, taking death toll to 22. As many as 29 people lost their lives in two major incidents in national capital, bringing the functioning of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)'s role under scrutiny.

The collapse of a building in Saket's Saidulajab on May 30 and a fire in Malviya Nagar's Hauzrani on June 3 could have been averted if MCD would have paid heed to the Supreme Court order.

According to a report by Jagran.com, due to collusion, political interference, illegal construction and commercial activities operating in violation of regulations could not be stopped.

Supreme Court's survey order and MCD's inaction

In its order on March 25, the Supreme Court directed all the states, including Delhi, to identify all the commercial activities being carried out by misusing the property. Despite it the identification did not start. Although the paperwork for this has been completed.

Action on the order of the Supreme Court, the MCD Commissioner issued an order on April 20, directing all the zone deputy commissioners to conduct the survey within a week.

ALSO READ: 'Electric Stove Exploded Before Massive Fire': Malviya Nagar Hotel Cook Reveals What Happened On Ill-Fated Day

The goal was to identify all such properties which are operation commercial activities illegally. However, buzz of survey, caused protests in many areas.

Public representatives began to face pressure. In East Delhi's New Ashok Nagar, the shutters of shops in residential areas were removed overnight and walls were built.

Not survey report, MCD filed an affidavit

Local councilor Sanjeev Singh and the local MLA protested, and sealing action was prevented. The MCD later filed an affidavit in the apex court, stating that the master plan permitted various uses of the properties.

ALSO READ: Delhi Hotel Fire, Saidulajab Building Collapse Triggers MCD Crackdown; Over 70 Properties Sealed, 12 Demolished

During May 25 hearing, the top court expressed displeasure over failure in filing a report. The court even commented that the MCD may have a tacit understanding with those involved in illegal construction and misuse.

Doubling down on its building safety concerns, the court directed the MCD to submit an action taken report at the next hearing.

The court was also informed that construction in Sarojini Nagar and Lajpat Nagar is exceeding the permitted limits. The court cited this as a potential cause of a major accident.


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