Sealing intensifies, 658 shops sealed despite hectic politicking

New Delhi, Apr 3 (UNI) Despite heightened activity in political circles today for issuance of an Ordinance to stop forthwith the sealing of shops in residential areas, the sealing operation by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi gained momentum today with as many as 658 commercial units being put under seal by the authorities.

The wave of protests against the sealing drive by traders and their employees in the past few days led to a hectic activity in political circles.

Five Congress MPs of Delhi, including Union Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal, today appealed to the Centre to bring an ordinance or introduce a Bill in Parliament to stop forthwith the drive being carried out by the MCD for a period of six months.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Sibal said within this period, the authorities will notify the 2021 Master Plan of Delhi and prepare a strategic plan with respect of each zone keeping in mind the needs of the community and the extent of unauthorised constructions.

The Union Minister said the MPs had already met Union Minister for Urban Development Jaipal Reddy seeking relief for the people being affected by the sealing and demolition drive of the MCD and had sought time to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard.

Not wanting to be left behind, the BJP also upped efforts to seek relief for traders from the sealing drive.

A delegation of BJP leaders in the MCD, led by the Leader of the Opposition in the MCD Subhash Arya, today met Senior party leader L K Advani to discuss with him various issues related to the sealing of commercial units.

According to BJP leader Vijender Gupta, who was part of the delegation, Mr Advani assured them that he would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to urge him to ensure that the Government urgently issue an Ordinance to regularise commercial activities in residential areas of Delhi with 80 ft or wider roads and to halt the sealing operation for a period of six months.

The hectic political efforts to stop it notwithstanding, the sealing of shops in various areas of the capital carried on as usual with the Supreme Court today refusing to stay the on-going process.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice C K Thakker, however, extended the time for filing of affidavits of undertaking till April 7.

Unlike the previous four days of sealing operations which saw a wave of violent protests against sealing, todays's sealing operation was peaceful.

The maximum number of 185 commercial units were sealed in the Karol Bagh area while 148 units in the City zone, 74 in Rohini, 53 in Shahdara (South), 47 in Sadar Paharganj, 42 in Najafgarh area, 30 each in West and Civil Lines Zones, 17 in Shahdara (North) and 12 in Central Zone.

Meanwhile, the MCD today carried out demolition action on six properties, including four residential and two commercial. With this, the Corporation has carried out demolition action on 1866 unauthorised properties, including 943 residential and 923 commercial.

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