Just as the elections are over in Delhi, so the temporary relief from sealing comes to end. The BJP-ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) has issued notices to traders in Chandni Chowk, Kashmere Gate, Sadar Bazar, and Jama Masjid to pay conversion charges failing which their properties would be sealed.
Ahead of the December 4 Assembly polls, the NMC had announced that it would not levy any conversion or parking charge on the commercial properties that have been existing since 1962 and for that the owners had to furnish just an affidavit.
However, in a recent communication, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has said the owners will have to furnish documentary evidence to prove that their properties existed prior to 1962. Pursuant to this, the civic body has begun slapping notices on traders seeking payment of conversion charges by June 30 this year failing which sealing action would be initiated. So far notices have been issued to 80 property owners while 300 another defaulters have been identified.
For the BJP, it was a major political sop to win back its traditional vote bank of the trading community in the Old Delhi which falls under the Chandni Chowk parliamentary constituency. Exemption from paying conversion charges clearly meant that these properties would no longer face the threat of sealing by the civic body. The NMC had sought opinion of the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) in the matter who also suggested that such properties were not liable to pay any conversion charges.
“The North Delhi Corporation has issued notices to 80 defaulters. Another 300 property owners have been identified. More notices will be issued to defaulters. They have to pay conversion charges by June 30 to avoid sealing action,” said Yogendra Singh Mann, Director (Press & Information), North Delhi Municipal Corporation. Over 20 major markets would be affected by the Corporation’s move that include Jama Masjid, Chitli Kabbar, Bazar Sitaram, Ajmeri Gate, Chandni Chowk, Fatehpuri, lajpat Rai Market, Kashmere Gate, Mori Gate, Malka Ganj, Shabzi Mandi, Bara Hindu Rao, Sadar Bazar, Nabikarim, Kadam Sharif, Ram Nagar Paharganj, Madal Basti, Manakpura, Naya Bazar and Jhandewalan.
After the conversion charge waiver last year, the property owners were only required to furnish an affidavit claiming to run their business in these commercial areas since or before 1962. However, now they will have to compulsorily provide proof of the history of their business to claim the waiver. These include proofs like trade licence, house tax paid at commercial rate and electricity and power bills paid at commercial rate among others.
Since June last year, the civic body had suspended all action against the business establishments in the commercial areas following suggestions of the Additional Solicitor General. “The commercial areas which where in existence as such prior to 1962 and which are specifically noticed to so in the Master Plan for Delhi (MPD) 1962 will be entitled for the benefits and have to be treated as commercial areas and the premises located therein will not be liable to pay any conversion charges,” Additional Solicitor General Rakesh Kumar Khanna had opined.