Regularly acting against illegal constructions: SDMC tells SC

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) today told the Supreme Court that they have been taking action against illegal constructions in the area from time to time.
The corporation told this to a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta after the court asked the SDMC about the action taken by them against illegal constructions.
SDMC's Additional Commissioner, who was present in the court, told the bench that this year, they have booked around 2,000 properties for illegal construction besides demolishing about 1,800 such properties.
The official said that prosecution have been launched against around 544 such properties.

After a brief proceeding, the bench said it would take up the matter for hearing tomorrow.
The apex court had earlier said the rule of law over sanction to construct buildings has "completely broken down" and expressed concern over rampant illegal constructions in the national capital.

Ordering restoration of its 2006 monitoring panel to identify and seal such structures, the court had asked SDMC Commissioner to appear before it after taking serious note of an unauthorised colony at the Mehrauli area of South Delhi.
It had decided to restore the powers of the Monitoring Committee, which was relieved in 2012, to identify and seal unauthorised premises and construction in the city.

The Monitoring Committee, comprising K J Rao, former advisor to the Election Commissioner, Bhure Lal, Chairman, Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) and Major General (Retd) Som Jhingan, was set up in March 24, 2006, by the apex court to oversee implementation of the law relating to sealing of offending premises.
The court had said it had asked the committee not to seal any premises from 2012 after expecting the authorities to carry out their statutory duties.