The newly elected Rekha Gupta government in Delhi has taken a significant step to provide relief to the common people. Previously, police interference often caused hurdles in house construction, leading to delays and unnecessary complications. However, with this new decision, police permission will no longer be required for construction projects in Delhi. The government has officially issued a circular to implement this change.
Urban Development Department Issues Circular
Naveen Kumar Chaudhary, Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department, issued a circular detailing the new policy. According to this circular, under Section 336 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is solely responsible for regulating all building construction activities in the city. Builders must obtain approvals for layout and building plans directly from the MCD under various provisions of the DMC Act.
Previously, local body officers would sometimes request police investigation reports for suspicious construction activities. However, the circular clarifies that apart from such exceptional cases, the police have no role in building construction. As a result, police permission is no longer necessary for any construction work in Delhi.
Clarifications to Avoid Misuse of Rules
The Delhi government has instructed the police department to inform all personnel about this change to prevent any confusion or misuse of authority. However, this does not mean that the police will not assist the MCD when required. If any violations or illegal activities are reported, the police will still be expected to provide full cooperation to the MCD.
A Step Towards Reducing Corruption
This decision comes after long-standing complaints from Delhi residents about police harassment during construction work. Many people alleged that police officers often interfered unnecessarily, leading to bribery and corruption. The Rekha Gupta government has now made it clear that such interference will not be tolerated.
Going forward, all building plans will be approved solely by the MCD. If the MCD deems police intervention necessary in specific cases, they can seek police assistance. This move is expected to streamline construction approvals, reduce bureaucratic delays, and curb corruption within the system.
