65 buildings illegal in East Delhi, reveals RTI

CNN-IBN; New Delhi: Nov 21, 2010,

Days after the building collapse in Lalita Park killed more than 65 people, an RTI has thrown up some disturbing facts.

More than 65 buildings in Shahadra in East Delhi are illegal. Also copies of some RTI replies available with CNN-IBN reveal that government officials make every effort to withhold information in order to protect interests of certain builders.

The RTIs also point out that authorities from the MCD and the DDA made every effort to withhold information in order to protect the interests of builders, even if that meant furnishing wrong information

A clear modus operandi which emerges in this case is that an illegal building is constructed in 3 to 6 months and during this period neither any cognizance of any complaints is taken nor any information provided under the Right to Information Act. After the whole building is constructed it is probably claimed that this is an old building and needs to be regularized

In fact, Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi, who hears numerous appeals related to illegal construction every month, says that he had himself written to the anti corruption bureau but got no response...

CNN IBN reporters met owners of some of the illegal properties mentioned in the RTI. A two-minute conversation with them doesn't leave too much room for argument.

Says Bhagwan Singh, a building owner, "Arrey sir mera hi nahi sabhi ka illegal hai. Agar maine chaar banaye hai toh bakiyo ne 6 banaye hain. (Sir, it's not only my building that is illegal, most are. If I made four such buildings, others have six)."

Perhaps it was this utter disrespect for law that caused the death of more than 65 people at Lalita Park. Even the government is well aware that almost every second or third house here is illegal.

The big question here is what will it take for the officials to stop unauthorised construction and simply implement rules which already exist.