Continuing its sealing drive, South and North Delhi Municipal Corporations (SDMC and NMC) has sealed nearly 140 commercial units in three markets in for alleged violation of municipal norms.
The action on 39 units in three markets under North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) and 103 units in SDMC areas were taken on the directions of a Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee.
A senior official of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation said “Twenty-one units were sealed in Sunder Nagar Market, 48 in H-Block, DDA Market in Saket and 34 in BK Dutt Market in Rajouri Garden were sealed for misuse of property. However, 10 units were sealed in lala lajpat Rai Market, 26 in New Qutub Road Market and three in Timarpur Market, areas falls under NMC jurisdiction.
“The owners of seven shops presented affidavit and papers confirming submission of conversion fee was spared and no action taken against them,” the SDMC official said.
The monitoring committee recently held a meeting and more markets are likely to face action in coming day.
“The order was issued by the committee appointed by the SC 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 NMC. Initially, the officials faced resistance from owners of the units, forcing the authorities to call police. “The action was taken in police presence,” he said.
On December 22, the SDMC had sealed some famous shops and restaurants in South Delhi’s posh Defence Colony market for not paying the conversion charges (Rs 89,000 per square metre) to the corporation for converting the residential complex to a commercial one. However, the conversion charges were reduced to Rs 22,000 later. Again on December 28, the civic body sealed 29 commercial establishment officers/shops in Chhattarpur Bhati Road.
The SC-appointed 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.