AAP questions delay in sealing illegal farmhouses

NEWDELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party, the main opposition party in the north Delhi municipal corporation, Thursday questioned the delay in action against farmhouses and motels found flouting land-use norms despite the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee’s directions.

The north corporation, in a reply to a question, informed the standing committee that 62 farmhouses and motels (56 in Narela zone and six in Civil Lines) of the total 76 were found flouting landuse norms and notices had been served to the owners.

Vikas Goel, an AAP councillor, said the committee had on September 20 directed the corporation to seal erring farmhouses and motels — rented out for weddings and parties — after serving notices with a 48-hour deadline.

“According to data shared by the north corporation, there are 76 farmhouses and motels under its jurisdiction, of which 62 had made unauthorised constructions. Around three weeks have passed since the committee asked the civic body to crack down on farmhouses but the corporation failed to seal even a single one, Goel said, adding that action should be taken against officers responsible for showing laxity. He said 10 motels in north Delhi were running without licence.

The committee on September 19 inspected a number of farmhouses and found “large-scale” misuse. It sought a compliance report from the civic bodies by September 28 but later extended the date to October 15.

On October 1, the north corporation formed a seven-member team to find out which farmhouses and motels were flouting norms. “Notices with a 48-hour deadline have been served to the owners of the properties. We are waiting for their reply. Once the deadline ends, sealing would begin,” a north body official said.

Congress councillor Mukesh Goel said, “The corporation acts swiftly against the poor but the do not have courage to seal illegal farmhouses and motels.”