New Delhi, April 20
Delhi BJP on Sunday urged Municipal Commissioner Ashwani Kumar to set up a 'Dangerous Buildings Department' and declare all buildings with fifth and sixth floors as dangerous, demolish these floors and take steps to stop sale and registration of such properties.
Party spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor stated that statements by Aam Aadmi Party leaders regarding Saturday's building collapse in Mustafabad, in which 11 people were killed, were misleading and blamed the party for promoting illegal constructions.
According to the building department regulations of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, only three-floor constructions, including the ground are permitted in Delhi.
"However, in Muslim-majority areas across the city, the construction of fourth floors is common, and in nearly three-quarters of the buildings, fifth and sixth floors have also been added," he said.
Between 2015 and 2025, illegal constructions flourished in these Muslim-majority areas under the protection of AAP MLAs and councillors. These are areas where not even the police and the Municipal Corporation have been able to stop illegal construction, he said.
The past 10 years bear testimony to the fact that whenever the MCD attempted to take action against illegal fifth and sixth-floor constructions, AAP MLAs such as Haji Yunus, Abdul Rehman, Amanatullah Khan, Imran Hussain, Somdutt, and Shoaib Iqbal led aggressive crowds against such actions, Kapoor said.
The BJP spokesperson said there are currently thousands of dilapidated buildings in Delhi that cause fatal accidents each year.
If the MCD creates a Dangerous Buildings Department, the task of averting tragedies will become easy and pave the way for the demolition of such structures.
Earlier in the day, the AAP sought compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for the 11 people killed in Mustafabad.
Delhi Mayor Mahesh Khichi and AAP spokesman Adil Ahmad Khan, addressing media persons, also sought strict action against officials guilty of laxity in checking illegal construction in the building which caved in on Saturday.
Khichi said, "I am writing a letter to the MCD Commissioner urging him to suspend the officials found guilty of allowing illegal construction."
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally someone is talking about this issue seriously! These illegal constructions are death traps waiting to happen. The Mustafabad tragedy should be a wake-up call for everyone. ðŸ‘
While I agree about safety concerns, this seems like selective targeting of certain areas. Why only Muslim-majority areas mentioned? Illegal constructions happen across Delhi - focus should be on all violations equally.
The Dangerous Buildings Department is a great idea, but what about rehabilitation? You can't just demolish floors where people are living without providing alternatives. Need a comprehensive plan.
So sad about the lives lost 😢 When will we learn? Both parties need to stop blaming each other and actually fix the problem. These buildings are unsafe for residents AND neighbors.
The root problem is corruption at all levels - builders, officials, politicians. Until that's addressed, no department will make a difference. The system needs complete overhaul.
I live near one of these buildings with illegal floors. Every monsoon we worry it might collapse. Authorities only act after tragedies happen. Proactive measures are long overdue!
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