Delhi Coaching Flooding: NOC Of Rau's IAS Study Circle To Be Cancelled, MCD Bulldoze Encroachments Blocking Drains — Updates

Delhi Coaching Centre Deaths: The MCD began removing illegal structures blocking drains, which contributed to the flooding. The NOC of Rau's IAS Study Circle building is set to be cancelled.

New Delhi: Police personnel guard as a bulldozer demolishes parts of the IAS coaching institute in Old Rajinder Nagar, where 3 students died due to drowning, in New Delhi, Monday, July 29, 2024.

Source : PTI

Two days after the tragic flooding of a basement in Delhi's Rajinder Nagar, which claimed the lives of three IAS aspirants, civic authorities have initiated bulldozer action to remove encroachments blocking drains and contributing to severe waterlogging in the area. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is under fire following the incident, where two women, aged 25, and a 28-year-old man perished after being trapped in the basement library of Rau's IAS Study Circle in Rajinder Nagar. It has emerged that the library was operating in violation of regulations, as the civic body had only permitted the basement for parking and storage.

Delhi Coaching Centre Deaths: NOC Of Rau's IAS Study Circle To Be Cancelled, Saurabh Bharadwaj Accuses Chief Secretary Of Evading Responsibility 

• Delhi Fire Services officials informed that they have initiated the process of cancelling the No Objection Certificate of Rau's IAS Study Circle building in Old Rajinder Nagar, news agency PTI reported.
  
  
•  A video shared by news agency ANI depicted an earthmover at work, drilling and removing cement blocks obstructing the drains in Old Rajinder Nagar.

  #WATCH | Earth movers put into action to remove encroachment over drains in Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar after the incident of death of 3 UPSC aspirants due to drowning in an IAS coaching institute pic.twitter.com/NR6sjw5a7b

  — ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2024

  #WATCH | Action against alleged encroachment being taken in Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar, where 3 students died due to drowning at an IAS coaching institute on 27th July. pic.twitter.com/OpimYih7EL

  — ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2024

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) constituted a committee to inquire into the death of the three civil services aspirants. "The committee will have Additional Secretary, MoUHA, Principal Secretary (Home), Delhi Govt, Special CP, Delhi Police, Fire Advisor and JS, MHA as Convener. It will submit its report in 30 days," the MHA stated.
  
  
• Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena announced Rs 10 lakh compensation for the kin of the three IAS aspirants. "LG assures action against responsible officials of Delhi Fire Services, police and MCD within 24 hours," his office stated, as per PTI. 
• Delhi Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, on Monday, accused Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar of evading responsibility for desilting drains despite multiple requests since February. Bharadwaj highlighted that he had scheduled a meeting on February 13 to devise a strategy to prevent monsoon waterlogging, but no IAS officers attended. Instead, only executive engineers were present, leading Bharadwaj to express displeasure over the absence of departmental heads.
  
  According to PTI, Bharadwaj stated, "I had issued a notice on February 6 for a meeting of all departments, but the response was inadequate. On February 23, I called for action against department heads for non-attendance, but no action was taken. My subsequent letters on May 20 and later also went unanswered. On June 6, I received an absurd reply from Kumar, which would warrant suspension in any other state."
  
  He alleged that Kumar misled the high court about the waterlogging and desilting efforts in the capital. "The Centre gave two extensions to Naresh Kumar as Chief Secretary of Delhi, and he is ruining the city," Bharadwaj asserted. He further claimed that the Chief Secretary cited the model code of conduct to avoid providing details of desilting efforts.
  
  Addressing the press, Bharadwaj said, "This is murder and we demand an investigation. The BJP-led central government controls the officials, and they don't listen to us. We want those responsible to be hanged. Crores of rupees are spent on desilting before the monsoon."
  
  
• Earlier in the day, Delhi LG V K Saxena visited the coaching hub of Old Rajinder Nagar and interacted with protesting students. Saxena assured them that action would be taken, though students demanded he join them in their protest rather than stand behind police barricades, PTI reported. Despite his assurances, Saxena left without fully addressing the crowd but promised, "I am with you," vowing that those responsible would face consequences.
  
  
• Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to direct the government to compensate the families of the deceased students with Rs 1 crore each. Yadav stated, "The incident has shaken people and created fear among students preparing for competitive exams."
  
  
• In a plea, student Avinash Dubey wrote to Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, demanding action against city officials responsible for the deaths, according to NDTV. Dubey highlighted the persistent waterlogging issues in areas like Rajendra Nagar and Mukherjee Nagar due to poor infrastructure and negligence by the Municipal Corporation. He urged the top court to ensure a safe and healthy environment for students, stressing that the incident exposed the dire conditions students face while preparing for their exams.
  
  "Sir, areas like Mukherjee Nagar and Rajendra Nagar face waterlogging every year due to Municipal Corporation negligence. We are forced to live in knee-deep drain water... today's incident proves our lives are not safe," Dubey wrote, as quoted by NDTV.
  
  Dubey called for immediate steps to resolve the waterlogging issue permanently, strengthen emergency and medical response measures, and ensure proper evacuation routes.
  
  
• Delhi Police has served a notice to MCD seeking information in the investigation of a case registered in connection with the death of 3 students, ANI reported.

Delhi Police have arrested the owner and coordinator of Rau's IAS Study Circle, charging them with culpable homicide and other offences.