East Delhi civic body blames government staff for illegal buildings

NEW DELHI: Highlighting the increase in sale and purchase of illegally constructed builder floors in the city, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) mayor has alleged this is happening as Delhi government’s officials and staff are immersed in corruption.

“They are doing registry of flats/floors/houses without checking facts and working in connivance with building contractors,” said EDMC mayor Shyam Sunder Agarwal, adding that every month a list was prepared by the civic body about the number of properties booked and sealed by them and shared with the registrar’s offices.

Agarwal claimed, “It has been observed that the list is not being checked and registry of even sealed and booked properties is being done in connivance with the builder mafia. Even government lands are not spared at times. The registrar’s offices should not register properties booked and sealed by the corporation and put a red mark on them.

“Those who buy such properties and get them registered by paying bribes repent later as they
do not get electricity and water connections. Also, there is always the fear of these buildings
getting sealed. The property cannot be resold later,” said the mayor, while appealing to residents
of east Delhi to take all precautions while buying property.
The mayor stated, “People should verify with the civic body if a property is booked or sealed so
that they do not suffer any losses. Further, the house should be residential and not more than
four storeys (upper ground, first, second and third). The builder mafia is constructing even 5 to 6
floors.”
Agarwal has written to the EDMC commissioner saying all properties booked and sealed after
2007 should be put on the website of the corporation so that people can verify before buying
them.
Despite repeated efforts by TOI, Delhi government did not reply to queries.