Shutters Down at Major Delhi Markets to Protest Sealing Drive

Several markets in the National Capital will remain shut on 19 January to protest the recent sealing drive by the Supreme Court-appointed committee. Hindustan Times reported that the traders of the Federation of Local Shopping Complexes will hold a silent protest and close their shops in Greater Kailash I and II, South Extension part 1 and 2, Kailash Colony, Defence Colony, Green Park, Hauz Khas and Meharchand Market in Lodhi Colony.

A member of the South Ex Part 1 traders association told HT that the protest will focus on three points. “First, to stop the sealing drive till June 30 (the date notified by the centre for taking the benefit of reduced use conversion charge at Rs 22, 274), second, to increase the floor area ratio (FAR) up to 300 and third, to deseal the basements targeted recently despite payment for the additional FAR (at Rs 4,375 per square metre) and conversion charges (at Rs 6,138 per square metre),” the member was quoted as saying.

For this, the traders claimed that their building plan had been approved by the municipal corporation in 2000 after regularising construction till 1998, the Hindustan Times reported.

“The civic agency issued the notification to allow the commercial activities in basements after taking the FAR and conversion charges. In fact, in their plan the basement was shown as ‘commercial’ establishment. So why these are being sealed now and what happened to the money paid by the traders,” HT quoted Jagdish Gupta, general secretary of Defence Colony Market Traders Association as saying.

“They should understand that sealing would lead to loss of thousands of jobs. They should at least wait for the Delhi Development Authority to notify the increase FAR,” Vishal Ohri of the GK-II market association, told HT.

After North Delhi, Its South Delhi’s Turn

Over 80 shops were sealed in parts of north Delhi by the area's civic body for alleged violation of municipal norms on 18 January. The action on 87 shops were taken on the instruction of a Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee.

According to the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), 33 shops were sealed in Sadar Paharganj Zone, 34 in City Zone, 18 in Karol Bagh Zone and two in Rohini Zone.

The action was taken as these markets had allegedly violated the provisions of Delhi Master Plan 2021 or had done illegal construction or had not paid conversion charges. The BJP-led NDMC House also saw a war of words with Leader of Opposition (AAP) Rakesh Kumar alleging that Mayor Preety Agarwal did not allow him to speak on the issue of sealing. More markets are likely to be targeted in coming days.

(With inputs from Hindustan Times and PTI)

(We Indians have much to talk about these days. But what would you tell India if you had the chance? Pick up the phone and write or record your Letter To India. Don’t be silent, tell her how you feel. Mail us your letter at [e-mail]. We’ll make sure India gets your message.)