MCD workers break concrete slabs on the rooftop of a PG during a demolition drive against illegal construction in Laxmi Nagar, in New Delhi (ANI photo)

NEW DELHI: Over the past two days, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has carried out 34 demolition actions and sealed 17 properties across its 12 zones, according to a statement on Wednesday.The civic body also identified around 1,243 buildings operating as paying guest (PG) accommodations, housing 24,000 occupants, to create a database and assess their structural safety.The ramped-up action comes in the wake of the collapse of a building being run as a boys’ paying guest in south Delhi’s Satya Niketan. Seven people died in that incident.The MCD said it is assessing PG buildings for vulnerabilities, with particular focus on those having more than five storeys with RCC-framed structures or more than four storeys with load-bearing brick-wall structures.Based on field assessments, the buildings are being classified as “visibly safe”, “visibly repairable – needs minor repairs”, “visibly repairable – needs major repairs” and “visibly vulnerable/dangerous”.The civic body issued 22 show-cause notices and passed four demolition orders as part of Wednesday’s enforcement drive against violations of building bye-laws and the Master Plan of Delhi.On Tuesday, the MCD demolished 17 properties and sealed five for various violations.

Among the properties targeted on Wednesday was a building near Jama Masjid, with the MCD demolishing two roof panels on the ground floor and a partition wall.A demolition action was taken against an unauthorised construction at Sadak Prem Narain in Bazar Sitaram, and properties declared dangerous in Vikas Nagar and Sector 17, Dwarka.At Rana Pratap Bagh, four reinforced concrete cement (RCC) roof slab panels on the third floor and one on the first floor were demolished, with reinforcement cut using a gas cutter. Brick walls on the second floor were also removed.The civic body demolished three RCC slab panels and cut reinforcement at a property in Sardar Nagar, Model Town.The MCD has directed officials to complete the survey by September 10.