Confusion prevails on new building laws,conversion charges''

New Delhi, Oct 18 (UNI) Councillors of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, cutting across party lines, today lamented the confusion prevailing in Delhi despite the notification of the new building bye-laws by the MCD.

''Despite the MCD notifying its new building bye laws, there is a lack of clarity among people of Delhi about them. For despite the implementation of the new bye-laws, maps of structures built on their basis are not being passed. This has created a lot of confusion among the people of Delhi,''Standing Committee member Vijender Gupta said in a statement.

He said the public notices issued by the MCD in newspapers have created a lot of confusion.

''The notices talk of payment of annual charges but the quantum of these charges has yet to be decided by the Standing Committee. In this context, we feel that the notices should have been issued after clearing of charges by the Standing committee, which is the competent body to decide on such issues,''Mr Gupta said.

He alleged that due to the MCD not passing the maps of new structures based on the revised building bye-laws, development work in the city had come to a standstill.

Speaking at the meeting, Leader of the MCD House Jitender Kochar also admitted that the absence of any clarity on conversion charges and the consequent non-passing of maps of new buildings had created confusion.

Mr Kochar said the confusion on the sealing issue notwithstanding, the MCD should begin survey of additional roads, other than the 2183 notified by the MCD, in Delhi which could be designated as commercial or mixed use areas with the permission of the Supreme Court.

Accordingly, the Chairman of the Standing committee Jai Kishen Sharma directed that a survey be conducted to designate more such roads in Delhi as commercial or mixed use roads so that a report in this regard could be submitted to the Supreme Court.

UNI AR VD RN1949