NDMC refuses to legalise illegal constructions in Lutyen's zone

New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) The New Delhi Municipal Council(NDMC) has said it would file an application in the Delhi High Court refusing to regularise a floor and a lift of a restaurant in Connaught Place, heart of the Capital, stating that it would change the esthetic characteristics of the Lutyen's Zone.

The QBA restaurant, owned by the Golden Assets Holdings P Ltd, on the first floor at E-42/43 of Connaught Place had constructed a lift on the municipal land and some rooms on the mezzanine floor.

The Company had filed a petition in the High Court seeking direction to the NDMC to regularise them for the convenience of the visitors.

Justice S Ravinder Bhat, in an order on July 25, 2006, had directed, ''If it is found during the course of such proceedings that other adjacent properties have been regularised and construction permitted, the NDMC shall consider the pertitioner's request in the same manner.'' ''While carrying out this exercise, the NDMC shall adopt a uniform approach. The NDMC shall issue a speaking order after completion of the entire process, within three months from today,'' the order said.

However, the NDMC made a survey on September 1, 2006 and came to the conclusion that the unauthorised constructions could not be regularised without obtaining no objection certificate (NOC) from the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) and clearance from the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) and Heritage Conservation Committee as it is in the Lutyen's Zone.

There were no lift or any illegal constructions in open area on adjacent premises in the E Block and the records of the NDMC showed that no permission or sanction had been granted to anybody to have any construction in open area.

The constructions of a toilet, kitchen and a room on the mezzanine floor were also illegal as the floor could only be used fo storage purposes.

In a petition filed by Golden Assets Holding P Ltd had sought the direction of the court for regularising the constructions on the mezzanine floor and the lift which leads passage to the first floor.

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