MCD demolishes booked illegal structures in Laxmi Nagar and Pandav Nagar

Ronit Sohan watched demolition teams move through Laxmi Nagar and Pandav Nagar on Wednesday as the MCD acted against buildings booked for unauthorised construction.

An MCD official said one of the properties had plans for a ground floor plus four floors, but an extra portion had been built on top. The owner had been issued a notice before the demolition, the official said, adding that one or two other booked buildings in the area could also face action.

The drive follows Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s direction for strict action against illegal structures across Delhi after the Satya Niketan collapse, which killed seven people. Gupta has also ordered intensive inspections of paying-guest hostels and action where illegal construction is found. MCD had issued 11 notices over illegal upper floors after the collapse.

Sohan and another resident, Sunita, alleged that enforcement was being concentrated on some properties while other multi-storey buildings remained untouched. Sohan also alleged that residents had faced demands for bribes when approaching officials and police; those allegations were not independently established.

For residents of the two neighbourhoods, the immediate change is the prospect of further demolition at properties already booked by the MCD.