A recent survey by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has exposed widespread non-compliance with building safety regulations across paying guest (PG) accommodations in the city. The findings come a week after a five-story boys’ hostel in Satya Niketan collapsed, tragically killing seven people, and prompted the Delhi High Court to pull up the civic body.
Alarming Safety Gaps Uncovered
The extensive survey, which covered 2,453 PG properties across all 12 MCD zones, revealed critical lapses in regulatory adherence. According to the findings, a staggering 98.8% of surveyed PG buildings lack a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Delhi Fire Service. Furthermore, less than 30% (only 726 properties) had sanctioned building plans on record, and a mere eight properties possessed a structural stability certificate.
The inspection aimed to assess compliance with essential requirements, including occupancy certificates, structural stability documentation, and adherence to the Master Plan for Delhi. Officials indicated that the survey, initiated as part of a crackdown on illegal constructions, was still ongoing beyond its initial deadline.
Zone-Wise Discrepancies
The survey highlighted significant variations in compliance across different zones:
- Civil Lines Zone: Home to Delhi University’s North Campus, this zone recorded the highest number of PG properties at 608. Of these, only 364 had sanctioned building plans, 28 had fire NOCs, and none had a structural stability certificate.
- Keshav Puram Zone: With 410 PG properties, this zone showed only 54 with sanctioned plans, two with fire NOCs, and two with structural stability certificates.
- South Zone: Covering areas like DU’s South Campus, IIT Delhi, and JNU, this zone had 390 PG properties. Alarmingly, none of these properties had Delhi Fire Service clearance, a structural stability certificate, a sanctioned building plan, or an occupancy certificate. The survey also noted that none of the PG activities in this zone were permissible under the Master Plan.
Regulatory Requirements and Future Action
The investigation focused on key regulatory requirements such as the sanction of layout plans by the civic body, fire safety clearance, proof of structural stability, and occupancy certification. The MCD defines regularisation as the process of bringing unauthorised construction into compliance with applicable rules, subject to policy and payment of charges.
These findings underscore a severe systemic failure in ensuring the safety and legality of paying guest accommodations across Delhi, raising urgent questions about urban planning, enforcement, and resident well-being following the tragic Satya Niketan incident.