New Delhi, Sept. 3 -- A glaring delay in local civic enforcement has highlighted systemic administrative inertia in South Delhi, where an unauthorised structure in Hauz Rani continues to stand despite enforcement proceedings initiated eight years ago.
Official documents from the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) reveal that notices under Section 344(2) of the DMC Act were issued as early as January 2018 against several illegal structures in the Malviya Nagar ward. These notices cited unauthorised construction spanning ground to upper floors at properties in Hauz Rani and Khirki Village, requesting police assistance to halt work and clear illegal premises.
However, administrative records reveal that enforcement drives scheduled throughout 2018 were repeatedly deferred. Civic logs explicitly cite reasons such as "Police Force not available" and "Shortage of Time" on over a dozen dates between March and August 2018.
Despite a recent vacation notice issued years later, the illegal building remains occupied and non-demolished. Local civil society groups have raised serious questions over the prolonged delay, requesting accountability for the lapse and a time-bound vacation drive to dismantle the structure. Resident bodies now await concrete ground action from municipal authorities.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.