On the second day of ongoing drive against unauthorised constructions in Khan Market on Tuesday, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) sealed illegal portions of shops and restaurants for the violating the provisions of DDA’s Master Plan 2021.
According to NDMC officials, Mamagoto, Ritu Kumar, Fabindia are the popular store among the 16 commercial establishments which were sealed on Tuesday.
The Council on Monday had sealed the terraces and open spaces of eight major establishments following order by a Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee asking the NDMC to seal commercial establishments in Khan Market for alleged violation of provisions of the 2021 master plan and non-payment of user conversion charges.
“We sealed 13 more outlets on Tuesday, including cafeterias, restro-bars and other stores. For now, we have finished the sealing drive but if we come across more violations we will take action against them as well,” a senior NDMC official said.
The Chatter House, Civil House, The Blue Door Cafe, Beer Cafe, Anita Dongre’s store, Shyam Di Hatti, Raghvendra Rathore lable and Parallel Craft Kitchen are other famous popular store sealed.
However, a representative from The Beer Cafe denied that the officials sealed a portion of their terrace, claiming that they explained to the officials that they were using the terrace for keeping plants following which they understood their point.
“We were not using the terrace as serving area for people but plants, generators and a water tank were kept there. We explained to the officials that the plants were kept for ambience and they understood our point,” he said.
Restaurants Khan Chacha and Smokey’s Grill, salons Geetanjali, Javaed Habib’s and Affinity, Ayena Skin Clinic and Amrapali Jeweller store were among those sealed on Monday.
The monitoring committee has directed the civic bodies to collect use conversion charges from all 106 local shopping complexes in the city by January 15, failing which the markets will be sealed.
“User conversion charges are levied for misuse of land. If the land use of a particular plot is for residential purpose, the owners are liable to pay the user conversion charges to convert the plot into a commercial one”, said an official.