Remove illegal structures from Lutyen's zone: HC

New Delhi, Apr 25 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today directed the Central government to remove the illegal structures in the bungalows occupied by the Ministers, MPs and top bureaucrates in the Lutyen's zone within three months.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice M K Sarma and Justice Sanjiv Khanna directed the Ministry of Urban Development to restore the orginal structure in the bungalows in the heritage zone.

When the government counsel submitted that unauthorised portions had been removed in two more buildings in the last two months, the court observed it would then take years to restore the original structure in other bungalows.

On August 1, 2006, the government had assured the High Court that it would remove the illegal structures from the bungalows within two months.

Counsel Rekha Palli, appearing as amicus curiae, submitted that according to a survey by the Directorate of Estate and the CPWD, of 514 bungalows, at least 231 buildings had illegal constructions without the permission of the MCD.

The Delhi Urban Arts Commission, which was constituted by an Act of Parliament that has to be consulted before approval of any plans in this part of the city, has been bypassed for sanctions. Being without any teeth, the Commission has become dysfunctional and ineffective in checking the destruction.

UNI