SDMC revises challans for encroachers

LAST WEEK, THE CIVIC BODY HAD ANNOUNCED A 5FOLD HIKE IN FINES WHICH WERE ‘REDUCED’ TO DOUBLE THE PREVIOUS PENALTIES

NEWDELHI: Barely a week after the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) approved a five-fold hike in penalties for encroachments, the civic body on Friday “reduced” the hike to “only” double the previous penalty. The move came after stiff resistance from vendors and shopkeepers.

In a standing committee meeting on Friday, the SDMC took the decision to allow “only a two-fold hike” in fine to be imposed on squatters and people who leave their vehicles on road illegally.

The committee also directed the officials to implement the new rates with immediate effect.

Under the new rates, squatters would be fined ₹600, as opposed to ₹300 earlier. If any shopkeeper illegally occupies public land, he will have to pay ₹1,000. The old penalty for this was ₹600.

A transport company would now be expected to pay ₹10,000 and the fine for the water trolley owner has also been increased to ₹15,000. Penalty for unlicensed pushcarts is now ₹2,500.

This is apart from storage charges (of seized articles or vehicles), which ₹200 per quintal per day and removal charges of ₹2,000 for goods above five quintals.

Second time offenders will have to pay additional 25% of the fines under the revised rates and an additional amount 100% of the revised fine will be charged from offenders thereafter.

On May 30, the SDMC cleared a proposal to enforce a five-fold hike in penalties against encroachers and illegally parked vehicles.

Officials said the drastic spike in fines was to discourage repeat offenders who continue encroaching upon the public land after anti-encroachment drives.

The action against encroachers and illegally parked vehicles are being carried out in city on the directions of the Special Task Force (STF).

SDMC officials said this was the first hike in fines since 1995. “We have increased the rates as per the Delhi Municipal Act. Since 1995, there had been no increase in fines,” said Shikha Rai, standing committee chairman, SDMC.

“People started opposing the decision of the hike penalties soon after we made announcement last month. Some of them even refused to pay the increased amount. The traders, who were finding it hard to pay the penalty also approached us and requested for some relief. So, we decided to revise the rates,” she said.