MCD launches survey to assess illegal structures along GB road

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) today launched a massive survey to assess illegal structures along the GB road, infamous for prostitution and human trafficking, three months after DCW asked for its action plan for the demolition of unlawful structures there.
The north MCD officials, accompanied by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal, police, fire department officials and some NGOs, visited and examined over half-a-dozen brothels in the red-light area and found 'tehkhanas' or hidden cells in large numbers in each of these brothels.
"As a part of the survey we will find the hidden cells, assess illegal constructions and also ascertain the owners of these brothels apart from studying the safety aspects. It will take atleast two months' time to complete the survey," an MCD official said.

The Commission, in September, had issued a notice to MCD seeking to know its action plan for demolition of illegal structures on GB road. It had also asked the civic body to submit ownership records, house tax records and receipts and other relevant records for ascertaining the ownership of the brothels.
"After we issued the notice, the North MCD informed the Commission that it will conduct a survey of these brothels to identify these illegal structures ie the tehkhaanas. However, even after three months the survey was not conducted," Maliwal said.
Thus, the Commission organised a meeting at GB Road itself. The MCD officials informed that till date only external surveys were conducted and for the first time in its history, a survey was being conducted inside the brothels.

It is to be noted that the DCW has been actively advocating for framing of a policy for rehabilitation of these victims of trafficking at GB Road.
"GB Road is 3 km away from the parliament. Each woman is made to sleep with more than 30 men in a day. Minors are being trafficked from various parts of the country to this living hell.
"DCW will not stop until prostitution ends in Delhi and these victims of commercial sexual exploitation are rehabilitated. The Commission believes that this multi-crore flesh trade of innocent women and girls cannot flourish in Delhi without active connivance of politicians and authorities and is investigating the same," Maliwal claimed.