In a drive against unauthorised construction, three municipal corporations on Friday sealed 79 properties in the national Capital. South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) sealed 45 points in 25 properties while north and east Corporations sealed 15 and 19 units and shops.
A SDMC official said that the action was taken at Soami Nagar, Panchsheel Park and D Block Defence Colony.
The action was taken due to number of reasons including non-payment of conversion charges, encroachment, and misuse in the stilt parking area and illegal construction on the instructions of the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee. In the drive, thousands of shops have been sealed since last December.
The actions on 19 units were taken in areas of laxmi Nagar, Rajgarh Colony and Kanti Nagar. While, North Delhi Municipal Corporation sealed 15 properties at Azad Market, Ashok Viihar, Ambika Vihar and Paschim Vihar.
The monitoring committee, which was revived on December 15 last year, has three members including former adviser to the Election Commission KJ Rao, chairman of Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) Bhure lal and Major General (retd) Som Jhingan.
“The order has been issued by the committee appointed by the Supreme Court and we have acted accordingly. There is no need for sending any prior notice just before the action in that case,” said a senior official from SDMC.
However, traders blamed municipal corporations for sealing. “The lethargic, inaction and irresponsible attitude of officials of municipal corporations and DDA is responsible for sealing drive in the national Capital,” said the officials of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).
The official further said on the one hand the officials did not inform the Supreme Court about the statutory provisions of MCD Act, 1957 spelling out due process of law before taking any action whereas on the other hand Master Plan 2021 had put various responsibilities on municipal corporations but they have utterly failed in performing all such responsibilities.