‘Complaints against unauthorirzed construction online soon’in India

It would soon be possible for Delhiites to lodge online complaints against unauthorised construction in the city from the comfort of their homes. A website to facilitate this was recently demonstrated by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation before the Delhi High Court. A bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar, before which the pilot project was showcased, said that the system only covered areas under North MCD and was operated by its officials. This should be applicable to rest of Delhi and made accessible to the citizens as well, the bench said. Expressing satisfaction with the online system, the court suggested that a provision should be put in place for uploading more photographs of unauthorised constructions, as only one image can now be put up on the site. After watching the demonstration, the court listed the matter for further hearing on November 16. The bench was hearing two PILs seeking action against unauthorised constructions in the Chandni Chowk area. Agreeing to incorporate the suggestions of the court, the corporation said the system would soon be open to the public. The North MCD also told the court that under its online unauthorised construction complaints management system, which was launched on September 21, over 400 complaints have already been filed. It said that after a complaint is registered, it goes automatically to the zonal head of the concerned area and an acknowledgment number is also sent on the email of the complainant who can then track its status. The software was devised after the court in May this year had ordered the corporation to immediately computerise booking of unauthorised constructions as per a direction it had given eight years ago. The court in its May 25 order had asked the corporation to implement forthwith its directions of 2008 in which it had ordered computerisation of booking of unauthorised construction and creation of a centralised and zone-wise complaint cell with telephone facility on the lines of the police emergency number 100. ( Source – PTI  )