Civic authorities to crack down on Connaught Place shops

The sealing crackdown in the Capital is likely to hit Connaught Place and more specifically, the iconic Regal building on Thursday. Sources said that a large number of eateries, shops and restobars are under the scanner for unauthorised constructions and "misuse" of terraces/rooftops and open spaces.

A team of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), the civic body for Lutyens' Delhi, along with members of the Monitoring Committee inspected the Regal building on Wednesday. According to sources, a mass drive will be undertaken where officials will inspect commercial establishments door to door.

The drive followes a Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee's orders.

Action against errant establishments will be taken under section 250 of the NDMC Act, 1994, according to which, use of terraces/rooftops/open spaces for commercial purposes is a violation of building norms, against which the civic body is empowered to take 'sealing' or 'demolition' action.

Earlier this month the civic body had also issued show-cause notices to nine popular restaurants and cafes for not having NOCs from the Fire Department, which is a crucial requisite for the functioning of the outlets.

Last year, the NDMC had sealed the rooftops of 21 major eateries in CP after two incidents of roof collapse within ten days happened in the area. The incidents included the collapse of roof and portion of a wall above the popular Jain Book Agency and portion of the roof of the Unplugged Courtyard in the middle circle.

PAST ACTION

• After two roof collapse incidents in CP, civic body set up a high-powered review committee
   
• It was to assess 21 major outlets in CP
   
• The panel was headed by the chief of the public health dept, PK Sharma  
   
• Last month, the chief was suspended for alleged “irregularities” in issuing licences to eateries