The MCD today said a temporary night shelter removed by it in the capital,which left several people out in the cold,was an illegal encroachment on public land and a traffic hazard. The structure,put up by Delhi government officials,was demolished by the civic agency on Tuesday. The occupants of the shelter,mostly migrants from Karnataka doing odd jobs to earn a living,have been left shelterless and were living under the open sky in the biting cold conditions. Several non-governmental groups and activists have flayed the civic agencys move. MCD spokesperson Deep Mathur said the shelter was an illegal encroachment on public land. It was a traffic hazard,posing a threat to the occupants as well as the general public. It was also causing insanitary conditions, he said. He said no government agency or NGO sought permission from the MCD before erecting the structure. Mathur said the MCD is ready to help in constructing a shelter at a proper space to facilitate the migrants. The MCD has said the roundabouts in the area as well as the place from where the shelter has been removed will be beautified for the Commonwealth Games 2010. The civic body is running 25 shelters for the homeless this winter,in which Rs six per person per night is charged. In the 2010-11 budget for a slum-wing unveiled earlier this month,Municipal Commissioner K S Mehra had proposed to make the shelters free.
