'Monitoring Comm sanction needed to deseal shops sealed for misuse

New Delhi, Sep 27 (UNI) The Municipal Corporation of Delhi today said desealing of shops sealed by it for misuse, as per orders of the Supreme Court, would be done only after referring the matter to the Monitoring Committee appointed by the Court on the issue.

Speaking at a meeting of the MCD Standing Committee, the MCD Commissioner, however, said the Corporation would soon begin desealing of properties -- sealed for unauthorised construction on the order of the High court -- but which now stood regularised under the new building bye-laws notified by the Urban Development Ministry.

The commissioner's statement came after Leader of the Opposition in the MCD House Subhash Arya raised the issue of de-sealing of shops sealed by the MCD for misuse, as per orders of the Supreme Court, now that the Delhi Government had notified 2183 roads in many parts of Delhi.

Many other members of the committee also said the situation with regard to sealed shops should be clarified so as to clear the confusion prevailing among the trading community.

The Commissioner said the desealing of these could only take place after the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee gives permission for the same. Owners of many of the shops had given an affidavit that they were willing to change their trade to confirm with the new mixed use regulations mentioned in the Amended Master Plan 2001.

At the same time, he said desealing would soon begin for many shops sealed for unauthorised construction on the order of the High Court as per the new building bye laws notified by the Urban Development Ministry. He said the MCD had issued instructions in this regard to the Deputy Commissioners of the respective zones.

He said the corporation would, in a day or two, issue a public notice of the revised building bye-laws.

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