Potted plants in place of a boundary wall? Thats exactly how the exterior of the house of Delhi governments labour minister Ramakant Goswami looks after he followed the Lokayuktas direction and demolished it as it was found encroaching on public land. A row of potted plants now occupy the place where the boundary wall once stood,extending three feet onto the road,until the minister accepted before Lokayukta Manmohan Sarin that it was illegal. He had initially contested the charges. Goswamis counsel has told the Lokayukta after demolishing the wall in August the minister is left with hardly any space to construct a new one within the plot area of his house at 25/30 East Patel Nagar,a source said. The ministers counsel said that hardly about a foot or so remains between the construction on the ground floor and the legal boundary of the plot,which they feel is too less to construct a wall to replace the demolished one, the source said. Lokayukta Sarin had earlier dismissed Goswamis repeated arguments to retain the boundary wall while hearing a case of illegal constructions by Delhis legislators and councillors that has stretched for more than a year now. The Lokayukta has now asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to submit fresh photographs of the house,showing the wall has been demolished and also instructed it to demolish similar encroachments in the colony. The MCD had earlier reported that a few of Goswamis neighbours have also encroached on public land in the same way as the minister did. Even Goswami cited this fact during the hearing to argue that he should not be singled out and that he be allowed to retain the wall. But now that Goswami has followed instructions,Lokayukta Sarin has directed the MCD to ensure that other violators also follow the law. It is the statutory duty of the Corporation to remove encroachments from public land and enforce municipal laws, Sarin said during the last hearing. He had earlier appealed to Goswami that being a public functionary holding a high position of a minister in the Delhi government,he must voluntarily push back the boundary wall.
