Disaster waiting to happen: SC castigates civic bodies
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday castigated Delhi’s civic authorities for “keeping their eyes closed” and waiting for disaster to happen, questioning the DDA on its proposals to change the city’s Master Plan 2021.
Hearing a matter related to sealing in Delhi, the apex court said it appeared that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) was “succumbing to some pressure”.
“Everybody in Delhi is just keeping their eyes closed and waiting for disaster to happen. You (civic bodies) have learnt nothing from Uphaar fire tragedy and incidents in Bawana and Kamala Mills,” a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said.
The DDA recently proposed bringing uniform floor area ratio (FAR) for shop-cum-residence plots and complexes at par with residential plots, a move that would come as a big relief to traders facing the threat of sealing.
FAR is the ratio of a building’s total floor area (gross floor area) to the size of the piece of land upon which it is built.
During the hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who was appearing for some of the petitioners, said the DDA had recently proposed changes in the Master Plan.
“What about the people who are staying in Delhi?” the bench asked DDA.
“You have to hear the people also. You cannot hear only some people,” it said.
The bench referred to the ongoing illegal constructions in Delhi and asked, “Are you (DDA) looking after the interest of the people of Delhi or not?”
Stressing that there has to be rule of law, the court said Delhi was grappling with several problems like waste management, pollution and parking.
“Twenty out of 13 most polluted cities of the world are in India. Delhi is perhaps the most polluted. I do not know what civic authorities are doing in Delhi,” Justice Lokur observed.
The bench directed the DDA to file an affidavit within two weeks, indicating the changes it proposes in Master Plan 2021.
NEW DELHI: Hours after the Supreme Court castigated Delhi's civic authorities for "keeping their eyes closed" and waiting for a disaster to happen, the traders in the national capital remained doubtful about the future of their businesses.
Shops in the city reopened on Sunday after a two-day shutdown, called by Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) as a protest against the ongoing sealing drive.
While on Friday, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had approved pro- posed amendments to the city's Master Plan, which are aimed to providing relief to the traders hit by the sealing drive, the traders continued the shutdown even after the DDA'S decision.
On Saturday, CAIT sent a 12-point traders' charter of demand to Union Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, urging him to take necessary steps to mitigate the problems faced by the traders due to the ongoing sealing drive.
The DDA officials are still not clear on the implementation of the changed plans. The whole situation made the traders more clueless about the future. While a group of traders are against the strike, other sections associated with different political unions are looking for a political solution.
"The 48-hour Bandh was spontaneous and successful and amply reflected the amount of anguish and resentment of the traders," said Pravin Khandelwal, general secretary, CAIT.
Trade leaders from different states had joined their Delhi counterparts to take out a protest march from Red Fort to Town Hall in Chandni Chowk and later sat on a dharna demanding "justice" over the sealing issue.
However, the observations by the Supreme Court have brought some hope for the traders.
“Everybody in Delhi is just keeping their eyes closed and waiting for a disaster to happen. You (civic bodies) have learnt nothing from Uphaar fire tragedy and incidents in Bawana and Kamala Mills," a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said. Meanwhile, the AAP leaders have planned to conduct an daily meeting with the traders in every market of the Capital.