Makeshift mohalla clinics in north Delhi face ‘demolition’

New Delhi, Sep 4 (PTI) Several makeshift mohalla clinicsin north Delhi functioning out of porta-cabins on roadsides,face "demolition" as the area’s civic body has decided toremove such structures which have been built "withoutpermission". Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain today reactedsharply over the issue and claimed that these are temporarystructures and "did not need permission". The decision was taken during a high-power committeemeeting of the BJP-ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporation(NDMC) held last month. "MCD planning to demolish some Moh Clinics saying itstheir land. These r temp structures n don’t need permission,"the minister tweeted. He also attached with the tweet a photograph of themunicipal circular released in this regard. "During the meeting it was also pointed out that PWD,GNCTD has started erection/installation on footpaths/pavementsin many areas…All such structures should not be allowed tobe erected on footpaths/pavements without approval of thecorporation," the order reads. The area falls under the NDMC and its Mayor said, "nounauthorised structures will be allowed on pavements androadsides." "As a civic body, it is our duty to remove any illegalstructure. If the government has put up porta-cabins formohalla clinics without permission, we will certainly removethose. Illegal structures will not be permitted," north DelhiMayor Sanjeev Nayyar said. Mohalla Clinics scheme is one of the flagship projects ofthe AAP government and currently 105 such facilities have beenset up in different areas of the national capital, with mostof these operating out of porta-cabins. The issue is likely to further flare up the standoffbetween the AAP dispensation and the BJP-led civic body. The Arvind Kejriwal-led government has an aim to increasethe number of such clinics to 1,000 by the end of this year. These are planned to be set up in commercial hubs,including Nehru Place, Bhikaji Cama Place, and Subhash Place,in order to provide medical facility to the working classthere. Delhi government has identified 300 schools where suchclinics will be set up for giving medical service to studentsnear their study places. PTI KND NSD RGNSD