The fate of the 55-year-old library in Karol Bagh has been hanging in balance since September when the North Delhi Municipal Corporation issued a notice, claiming that building to be structurally unfit and dangerous.
Employees of a 55 year old library in the Capital are gathering support to save the structure facing demolition. Alleging conspiracy, the office bearers of the Delhi Public Library in Karol Bagh, have now sought a Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) inquiry to prevent the demolition.
"Attempts are being made to illegitimately close the Delhi Public library. The building was illegally declared as dangerous, and partly demolished," said Pankaj Pushkar, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA and library office bearer.
"Delhi Library Board has unanimously instructed the chairman to save the library and we demand a CVC enquiry regarding the role of land-mafia, corrupt officers and certain library officials in this case, and also to initiate legal action," Pushkar added.
The fate of the 55-year-old library in Karol Bagh has been hanging in balance since September when the North Delhi Municipal Corporation issued a notice, claiming that building to be structurally unfit and dangerous.
Library officials said that while the North Delhi Municipal Corporation issued a notice to the library on September 15, demolition of the building began on September 17. However due to the intervention of the staff, the demolition was postponed.
Sources said that CPWD had in 2011 also declared a portion of the first and second floor of the buildings as dangerous, however, the library officials failed to restore the building.
The North MCD commissioner, Praveen Gupta had, however, previously scrapped all the allegations. He had said that while all engineers from the technical department found the building 'dangerous', it was notified a month ago.
"Either we can save the lives of people who live around such 'about to fall' buildings or keep bothering about such allegations, which come every time such an issue is raised. However, we will still get it examined again, and in case there is any foul play involved we will take necessary action," Gupta had said.
Funded by Ministry of Culture, Delhi public library board is an autonomous board and it has around 45 branches and mobile libraries across Delhi. A famous 55 year old branch of it is located in Karol Bagh.
The library is run by an autonomous board. It consists of officers from both government of India and government of Delhi, intellectuals from libraries all over Delhi, members of Legislative Assembly and Councilors.
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