Decision on Sealing in notified roads after Feb 2 hearing: MCD

New Delhi, Jan 31 (UNI) With last date for traders on notified roads to file their affidavits in the Supreme Court expiring today, confusion prevailed over fate of lakhs of shops with the MCD today saying any decision on sealing in these areas would be taken by the Corporation after the February 2 hearing.

Though notification of the MPD 2021 by February 7 is expected to bring relief from sealing to the traders in notified areas with the Master Plan including in its purview the 2183 notified roads, delay in MPD 2021, from the earlier stipulated date of January 31 stated by the Centre in the Supreme Court, has placed a democles sword of sealing over the nearly four lakh traders in notified areas of Delhi.

Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy has said the MPD 2021 would be notified before February 7.

The last few days, after the Centre's announcement that the MPD 2021 would be notified only by February 7, have seen a rush among traders in Delhi to file affidavits before the DCs of their respective zones in order to save themselves from sealing.

MCD sources said 44,675 traders in notified areas of Delhi filed their affidavits before the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee till 1800 hrs today. Of this, as many as 24000 affidavits were filed today.

An MCD spokesperson said the MCD would now approach the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee with the list of the affidavits which would then be submitted to the Supreme Court. the apex court had directed sealing of shops of traders who did not file affidavits by January 31.

Any decision by the apex court in this regard would be obeyed by the Corporation.

Meanwhile, the ongoing sealing operation of residential properties in Delhi being misused for commercial purpises would continue, sources in the MCD said.

UNI