New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday resumed sealing of unauthorised commercial establishments in various areas across the Capital, following a Supreme Court directive with a South Delhi shopping complex becoming the first target of the drive amid a thick security blanket.
An MCD sealing team – consisting of an executive engineer, junior engineer and officials of power and water authorities – sealed CTC Plaza, Thapar Business Centre, Bata showroom and a few other shops near Ashram junction on Ring Road, a day after the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee decided to go ahead with the operations.
Though there were no major protests, traders alleged that they were not given notice in advance about sealing and could not remove goods from their shops.
"We knew that sealing is going to take place, but had no idea it will start from our shop. We were not given time to remove the goods and they have sealed the shops," M S Gandhi, President of Kilokri Traders Welfare Association, whose shop was also sealed, said.
Large number of security personnel including contingents of paramilitary RAF, CRPF and BSF and Delhi Police were deployed to prevent any untoward incident. Senior police officials, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Delhi) Anil Shukla, are overseeing the action.
Work at telecom regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) office came to standstill after MCD men sealed its building. The MCD sealed the office opposite Bhikaji Cama Place in South Delhi despite repeated requests for extension of time, TRAI officials said.
TRAI has already identified a new building and work was on to shift the premises, officials said, adding that they are planning to approach the apex court to seek an extension.
Among others, the sealed commercial establishments included a guest house and one of South Delhi's oldest gymnasiums, Pulse Impulse. "The MCD is bringing down the shutters and sealing the shops without even giving us a chance to shift the goods kept inside," Alok Rajut, whose automobile shop Hind Motors was sealed, said.
Angry traders had heated arguments with police and MCD officials, saying the sealing drive was inhuman. But it fell on deaf ears. The civic body is also simultaneously disconnecting power connection to the sealed premises.
"We are not slaves. As law-abiding citizens, we had filed the affidavits as directed by the MCD, but they are not sparing us despite that," Neeta Chandok, another shop owner, complained.
Four properties belonging to one Ankur Sanghi in Kilokari area along Ring Road were sealed. However, the occupants of one of the buildings broke the seal put by the MCD on the main gate of one of the properties, claiming that for the last 40 years it has been used for residential purposes only
Most schools in the capital were closed on Wednesday. Government sources said all the schools will reopen on Thursday. The traders had threatened to protest against the sealing drive, but no untoward incident was reported. CRPF, Rapid Action Force and the Delhi police were deployed across the city.
Meanwhile, four Congress councilors resigned from the MCD on Wednesday to protest against the sealing drive. The councilors — Ramesh Pandit, Prem Kumar, Deepika Khullar and Anil Kumar Vashisht — sent their resignations to Leader of House in MCD Jitender Kochar.
(With agency inputs)
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