Seeking respite from incessant sealing drive, aggrieved traders across the national Capital on Friday closed shops and came on the street to lodge a strong protest against the action undertaken on the recommendation of the ‘Supreme Court-Appointed Monitoring Committee’.
Angry traders went ahead with two-day shutdown even as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) announced slew of decisions in a meeting to provide some solace to traders, including a proposal to amend “Development Control Norms of Shop-cum-Residential Plots in MPD-2021”. All the major market, including Connaught Place and Khan Market, Karol Bagh, Greater Kailash, lajpat Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, and South Extension, remain closed on Friday.
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which claims the support of 2,000 traders’ associations and seven lakh commercial establishments in the city, also took out a protest march in about 500 markets of Delhi and held demonstration at about 100 different places across Delhi demanding immediate stoppage of sealing and de-sealing of sealed properties.
Secretary general of CAIT Praveen Khandelwal said there are multiple authorities working in Delhi with lack of coordination resulting in hampering of systematic planned development. He demanded that the Union Government constitute a ‘Special Task Force’ under the chairmanship of Delhi lieutenant Governor, comprising senior officials of Urban Development Departments of both Central and Delhi Government, DDA, municipal corporations, the Delhi Police and representatives from trade unions, to ensure timely implementation Master Plan for Delhi.
Khandelwal said the Government should bring an Amnesty Scheme to maintain status quo as on December 31, 2017 and no penal action should be taken against any trader.
However, he said in future the law and its implementation should be made more strict and offenders be given exemplary punishment.
Demands of the traders also include notification of 351 roads as commercial or mix land use pending with the Delhi Government for many years.
Protesting traders also demanded that the municipal corporation should develop sufficient parking space as it has already taken thousands of crores of rupees as parking charges from the traders. “Uniform Floor Area Ratio (FAR) up to 400 should be given to authorise additional construction. Commercial use of basements in all areas should also be allowed,” they demanded.
One of the traders said the 'local Shopping Centres' were given on commercial rates and therefore no conversion charge should be levied on them. “The conversion charges should be levied maximum up to 10 years with no penalty or interest up till now,” he said.
Wholesale and retail markets including prominent markets such as Connaught Place, Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh, Sadar Bazar, Kashmiri Gate, Bhagirath Place, lajpat Rai Market, Khari Baoli, Naya Bazar, Kamla Nagar, Chawri Bazar, Nai Sarak,Khan Market, South Extension, Greater Kailash, lajpat Nagar, Defence Colony, Green Park and all other Markets of South Delhi, Rajouri Garden, Tilak Nagar, Uttam Nagar, Kirti Nagar and other markets of West Delhi, Ashok Vihar, Model Town, Shalimar Bagh, Pitampura, Rohini and other markets of North Delhi, Paharganj, Krishna Nagar, Vikas Marg, laxmi Nagar, Jagatpuri, Shahdara, loni Road, Mayur Vihar and other markets of trans Yamuna area were remained closed.
Traders also claimed that during the long shutdown, business incurred an estimated loss of Rs 1,800 crore thereby causing a loss of revenue to the tune of about Rs 150 crore to the Government.