After Satya Niketan tragedy, MCD plans PG survey, steps up demolition drive against unsafe buildings

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is planning a massive survey of paying guest (PG) accommodations and the number of occupants they house, aiming to zero in on such facilities that are unsafe in the wake of a building collapse in the Satya Niketan area that killed at least seven people, including five students, according to officials aware of the developments.

Two days after Sunday’s tragedy that struck a five-storey building that housed a PG, civic officials also carried out a large-scale demolition drive targeting unauthorised and unsafe buildings in a separate action. A day ago, MCD suspended five officials, including a deputy commissioner.

Tuesday’s drive entailed 35 demolitions across 12 MCD zones.

These included a major demolition exercise in Najafgarh, as well as another action against a four-storey building in Shahdara North. Multiple demolitions were carried out in Rohini (6), Narela (3), Civil Lines (3), Shahdara North (6), among others.

In addition to this, nine sealing actions were carried out, including two targeting large godowns in Karol Bagh and one against a hotel in the West Zone.

MCD intends to further intensify action against unauthorised construction, misuse of properties and dangerous structures. Several such properties have already been identified for major action.

Legal tangle

MCD’s many challenges in identifying and acting against such structures also include legal hurdles.

The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2011 — amended in 2014, 2017, 2021 and 2023 — provides protection to “unauthorised development” (unauthorised construction and misuse of properties, including encroachments) from punitive action until December 31, 2026.

According to officials, punitive action in this context could mean demolition, sealing or even the vacation of premises.