We'll go slow in demolishing 4th, 5th floor: Mayor Arti Mehra

New Delhi, Dec 31 (UNI) Muncipal Corporation of Delhi(MCD) Mayor Arti Mehra today said they will go slow in implementing the Delhi High Court order to demolish the fourth and fifth floors in the Capital.

''The fourth and fifth floors occupants are those which have small flats, which were sold by builders to the innocent buyers. We are trying our best to go for an amnesty scheme for these floor owners as they are the victims of the system," she said.

''We do not want that any officer of the MCD should face contempt of court charges, so we are adopting a 'go slow' policy while demolishing these flats,'' Ms Mehra said.

''We are targeting only those flats which are lying vacant or are partially built" she added.

The Mayor made it clear that all those flat owners who have nowhere to go, have small children whose exams are due and their life long earnings have been put in to buy these houses will be spared till we come up with a policy.

''The earlier Governments were not vigilant and they let the houses come up. Now we cannot displace the poor people and deprive them of their Fundamental Rights while the big fish, the farm house owners are enjoying similar facilities,''she said.

The Mayor further informed that they have requested the Centre to come up with an amnesty scheme to grant these house owners "One time pardon" and they will ensure that no such unauthorised construction comes up in future.

The Delhi High Court had earlier ordered the MCD to demolish the fourth and fifth floor in the capital as these are not protected under the Master plan 2021.

Upset over the cosmetic demolitions being carried out by the MCD and the false affidavits filed by it to support its stand, the Delhi high court had appointed Court commissioners to moniter the demolitions.

However, the MCD had also applied to the Delhi High Court to remove the court comissioners and the monitoring committee.

The civic body is, apparantely relying on the Supreme Court ruling in which it said that the Judiciary should not overstep its limits, should not try to run the Government and the judges should not act as emperors.

UNI