Centre may legalise some constructions in Lutyens' Delhi

The Union urban development ministry is preparing the ground to legalise some of the illegal constructions in the Lutyens' bungalow zone (LBZ) despite the Delhi High Court directives to the contrary.

According to the list being finalised by the CPWD, about ten politicians and senior bureaucrats, who have been found violating building norms in the LBZ, may get relief from the urban development ministry.

"The CPWD has submitted the list of those bungalows where illegal constructions can be made legal citing various reasons," said a senior ministry official.

The relief likely to be granted by the ministry to VIPs include former deputy prime minister and senior BJP leader LK Advani, Union Ministers Suresh Pachouri and Kumari Selja, former governor of Maharashtra PC Alexander and IB Director PC Haldar.

"There are three basic reasons given for making them legal. While some additional constructions carried out are only minor deviation in nature, in some cases it has been attributed to security reasons. There are also three bungalows where additional structures are now integral structures of the main building," said the official, adding any attempt to remove the alterations would affect the main structure.

While 71 VIP bungalows were found to have unauthorised structures, the ministry could remove only 16 by October 10.

Those bungalows where modifications are still intact include those of Cabinet ministers Arjun Singh, Ambika Soni, Ram Vilas Paswan, Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel and MPs Sushma Swaraj, VK Malhotra, M Venkaih Naidu, K Natwar Singh and SS Ahluwalia.

The urban development ministry, in its first report submitted to the Delhi High Court, has pointed out that there were about 210 bungalows in Lutyens zone with illegal constructions. The court had issued notice on September 4, 2006, giving occupants 90 days to demolish the illegal structures.

After 90 days, nothing happened and the court directed the ministry to file an action taken report. The ministry scaled down the number of houses with illegal constructions from 216 to 71 bungalows after new guidelines regularised constructions in remaining houses. The government initiated proceedings against 71 houses.

Sixteen out of 71 occupants voluntarily demolished illegal constructions. The court directed government on April 25 this year to remove unauthorised portions in remaining 55 premises within next three months.

However, on July 19, the Centre sought more time and on October 10 this year, the court again asked the CPWD to take immediate action against these constructions.

While the next hearing is on January 16, 2008, the ministry is likely to take the plea for regularising some of these illegal constructions on various grounds.