Delhi govt, MCD pointing fingers at each other for collapse

Delhi Government and MCD were today locked in a war of words with both sides pointing fingers at each other for the building collapse in Old Delhi area in which seven persons, including four women and a child, were killed.Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit sought to put the onus on MCD for the incident, saying illegal constructions in the area were a major concern while BJP which rules the MCD directly held the city Government responsible for the tragedy."It (illegal construction) is a matter of concern for us. I don't want to point fingers at anybody but those who are responsible for the incident, be it MCD or police, must take responsibility and take corrective steps," she said.On the other hand, MCD councillor and Delhi BJP chief Vijendra Gupta held Delhi Government "directly responsible" for the tragedy and demanded a judicial inquiry into it."We request Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna to order a judicial enquiry into the incident so that the guilty is punished," he said.Gupta said unauthorised constructions were going on in the city due to connivance among "building mafia, local administration and police.""The lacunae in the Master Plan of Delhi should be removed so that illegal construction by the building mafia could be curbed," he said.Seven persons, including four women and a child, were killed in the incident. One of the deceased is yet to be identified.Last night, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Harun Yusuf blamed the MCD for the collapse and said locals had approached the civic body several times but they never bothered to take any precautionary measures.