Illegal construction done in a haphazard manner in Old Delhi. Jagran Archive
Nihal Singh, New Delhi. The famous Ramlila Maidan is just five and a half kilometers away from the Parliament House. Which has been witness to many movements and political developments. Where Prime Ministers like India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh have addressed various programs.
At the same time, encroachment and illegal construction on such a large amount of government land shows the nexus of encroachers and government officials. Due to political patronage, illegal construction and encroachment in Delhi is not limited only to Old Delhi but entire Delhi is standing on the pile of illegal construction and encroachment. More than two thousand unauthorized colonies in Delhi are a living example of this.
Bulldozer removing encroachment near Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque near Turkman Gate on Wednesday. Photo- Chandra Prakash Mishra
Illegal construction is prevalent in these areas
According to the STF report, cases of illegal construction and encroachment are going on in areas like Rohini, Katra Neel Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh, Daryaganj, Kirani Suleman Nagar, Burari, Paharganj, Rajendra Nagar, Jamia Nagar, Okhla, Abul Fazal Enclave, Madangir, Mehrauli, Badarpur, Saket, Malviya Nagar, Munirika, Kabir Nagar, Seelampur, Babarpur.
Policemen deployed in front of Turkman Gate. Chandra Prakash Mishra
In this, someone has done construction in the park and someone has done illegal construction. People are fighting with government departments to remove illegal construction. The situation of illegal construction in Delhi is such that encroachment is being done on government land from parks to residential areas and commercial areas and it is continuing unabated. At the same time, colonies are being carved up illegally in outer Delhi.
Two lakh 20 thousand 291 complaints were received regarding illegal construction.
Illegal construction and encroachment can be gauged from the fact that around one thousand cases are pending with the Special Task Force formed for its disposal and monitoring in Delhi, which are going on in some court or the other for action.
Encroachment removed from Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque near Turkman Gate. Harish Kumar
Not only this, the situation of illegal construction in Delhi can be gauged from the fact that more than two lakh complaints of illegal construction reached STF last year.
According to STF report, 2 lakh 20 thousand 291 complaints were received regarding illegal construction. Out of this, only 18655 properties were booked. While show cause notices were issued to 3158 properties and sealing action was taken on 186 properties. 908 buildings were demolished. 146046 complaints were not considered actionable.
Action is not taken because of vote bank
The main reason for illegal construction in Delhi is that action is not taken due to political patronage and the people affected by it being part of the vote bank. There are illegal colonies in Delhi.
To save these colonies from demolition, the deadline of the Special Provision Act is repeatedly extended by the Parliament.
The main reason for lack of action is that the people living here have been a part of the vote bank of political parties from time to time, hence no political party openly stands together to take major action against them.
Also read- What is the role of SP MP Mohibullah in the Turkman Gate controversy? Came at night and left immediately, police will interrogate
Also read- What, when and how... Why did 30 bulldozers run near Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque in Delhi? answer to every question
Also read- Seeing the chaos near the mosque, people were imprisoned in their homes, how the moments of terror passed… Pictures are telling the situation.