Delhi markets to remain shut as traders protests against sealing drive

Market Associations across Delhi have decided to stage a protest today, against the Supreme court order directing the sealing and demolition of unauthorized shops. More than 7 lakh commercial establishments belonging to about 2,000 trade associations will participate in the bandh. New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) too has announced to close shops in Connaught Place to express solidarity. The Supreme court had last year in December, appointed a monitoring committee to look into the issue of illegal constructions by the commercial establishments using residential buildings for their business and also empowered the committee to seal the said establishments. The committee includes former advisor to the Election Commission K J Rao, chairman of Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) Bhure Lal and Major General (retd) Som Jhingan. Barjesh Gupta, the President of Chambers of Trade and Industry told the ANI, that no prior notice was given to the owners of such establishments before sealing the illegal constructions. And as a result, traders are being harassed from past one month by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The MCD has been conducting a massive sealing drive against shops running in an unauthorised way or operating businesses at basement and upper floors but not paying conversion charges. The South Delhi Municipal Corporation has already sealed the basement and upper floors of 38 properties in Hauz Khas market on Monday. The civic body had also sealed 135 shops out of 153 Lodhi Colony Meharchand Market on January 1. Earlier, 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 meter) to the corporation for converting the residential complex to a commercial one. According to the owners of such establishments, the sealing drive that is carried out by the civic bodies is not in accordance with the provision of Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Act, 1957 as no prior notice was given to them. Hence, the traders' associations have carried out a protest for giving them a reasonable opportunity of being heard before their establishments are sealed.