Delhi Government Home Minister Ashish Sood, after a high-level meeting on Friday, gave information about major administrative decisions taken in the meeting. He said that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has taken the recent tragic accidents due to illegal construction, ignoring fire safety standards and administrative negligence very seriously. In this emergency meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, many unprecedented decisions have been taken to strictly enforce the rule of law in the capital, attack corruption and fix accountability.
Sood clearly said that the Delhi government stands with all the families affected in these accidents with full sensitivity and commitment. The Chief Minister herself is reviewing the situation moment by moment. The aim of the government is not just to take immediate action, but to create a fool-proof system so that recurrence of such accidents in future can be prevented forever.
Home Minister Said that due to fragmentation of administrative powers among various agencies and bodies in Delhi (MCD, DDA, Fire, Electricity, Police), rules were often not strictly followed and officers shirked responsibility. To root out this problem, the government has taken a historic decision to further strengthen the powers of District Magistrates.
DM gets the power to take strict action
Now the District Administration (DM) will have wide powers to fix accountability of officers of any department working in the concerned administrative districts, initiate direct disciplinary action against them, register FIR, approve or cancel leave and take immediate action against officers who fail in their duties.
The Delhi government has effectively implemented the stringent provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (DDMA Act) in the capital. Under this, landlords or owners of commercial establishments who disobey government instructions will have to face heavy penalties including imprisonment of up to 2 years if found guilty under the law.
If any loss of life or damage to property occurs due to the connivance, negligence or corrupt conduct of a government official, that official will be personally responsible. In such cases, not only suspension, but also the strictest action including withholding of salary, pension, retirement benefits of the officer and recovery of loss from his personal property will be taken.
Announcement of forming a joint investigation committee
The Home Minister said that under the new order, joint investigation committees of various departments have been formed under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate. These include senior officials of Delhi Police, Fire Service, Electricity Department (DISCOMs), Municipal Corporation (MCD) and other related agencies. These committees will conduct intensive inspection of all guest houses, hotels, restaurants, banquet halls and other commercial establishments operating in their respective areas. Wherever any violation of license conditions or operation without permission is found, it will be sealed with immediate effect.
Ashish Sood said that there will be an immediate review of all the construction works going on in Delhi beyond the approved limit of G+5 (ground floor + 5 floors). Wherever illegal construction or violation of the approved map is found, it will be sealed immediately.
Reiterating the resolve of the Delhi government, Home Minister Ashish Sood said that our government is working on a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption, collusion and violation of rules. Political or administrative protection will not be given to any influential person or wrongdoer. Safety of life and property of the citizens of Delhi is our top priority, and anyone playing with it will not be spared.
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