MCD seals 113 units, traders dharna tomorrow on Master Plan

New Delhi, Dec 28 (UNI) The Municipal Corporation of Delhi today sealed 113 units in Najafgarh, Central and Shahdara (South) Zones.

During the sealing drive, the MCD sealed 95 units at Palam Extension to Dwarka Sector-7 falling in Najafgarh Zone while eight units were sealed at Ganga Ram Road falling in Karol Bagh Zone.

Eight units were sealed at C V Raman Marg, New Friends Colony falling in Central Zone while two units were sealed at I P Extension falling in Shahdara (South) Zone.

With the day's sealing, the total number of units sealed since the resumption of the drive on November 8, as per orders of the Supreme Court, is 3,762.

Meanwhile, the Delhi traders under the banner of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) will stage a Dharna tomorrow at Haryana Bhawan where the DDA Board is meeting to finalise Master Plan 2021, demanding inclusion of regularisation of all business establishments that existed on December 31 last year.

Trade leaders said in the recent session of Parliament, Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy assured them that Master Plan 2021 would take care of the problems arising out of sealing.

But while going through various press reports about the proposed MPD-2021, it seems that the sealing process will continue which has aggravated tension amongst traders.

''On the basis of reports about MPD 2021 published in various newspapers, no relief on score of sealing is visible. Areas like Walled City and Karol Bagh are having predominant use of commercial whereas MPD-2021 has laid down as these areas residential.

They said there also does not seem to be any scheme of rehabilitation of the traders whose premises have been sealed or are likely to be sealed, by allocating alternate sites.

However, in a meeting with traders, Mr Reddy and Union Minister of State Ajay Maken assured the traders that suitable steps would be taken to include remedial measures in MPD 2021.

Delhi Pradesh BJP president Harshvardhan also voiced criticism of the proposals of Master Plan 2021 and said if it was implemented in its present form, the capital city would be ruined.

''Under this plan it will be difficult for people to live in villages, unauthorised colonies and resettlement colonies.

People will have to face acute unemployment,''Dr Harshvardhan said in a statement.

Stating Chief Minister of Delhi Sheela Dikshit and Congress legislators in the DDA board and councillor Virender Kasana had registered several objections before the Lt Governor in connection with the Master Plan, he demanded a special session of the Legislative Assembly be called to discuss the issue.

UNI AR PA RAI1949