High-end showrooms may face MCD sealing

With the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2009, which provided immunity from sealing and demolition action, expiring on December 31, high-end showrooms in rural and urbanised villages across the Capital may soon come under the MCD axe. NEELAM PANDEY reports.time up

With the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2009, which provided immunity from sealing and demolition action, expiring on December 31, high-end showrooms in rural and urbanised villages across the Capital may soon come under the MCD axe.

HT Image

This includes shops located on Kalka Dass Marg in Mehrauli, high-end designer furniture showrooms on Mehrauli- Gurgaon Road, Shah Pur Jat, Hauz Khas Village and other rural and urbanised villages.

The urban development ministry failed to bring in a Bill in Parliament to extend the moratorium following pandemonium in the House by the Opposition over the alleged 2G spectrum scam.

Sources say the only option left with the government now is to bring in an Ordinance before December 31, which officials claim is a lengthy process and might delay the extension.

“The ministry has not been able to bring in a Bill so the only option left is to bring in an Ordinance. If they fail to do so, we will have no option but to start sending notices to shops and other commercial establishments for carrying out sealing from January,” said a senior Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) official.

There are around 200 rural villages and 180-odd urbanised villages, where commercial activities are being carried out. Designer hubs and boutiques in areas such as Shahpur Jat, Mehrauli, Munirka Gaon, Hauz Khas, Katwaria Sarai, Yusuf Sarai among others will face sealing action if the government fails to bring in an Ordinance.

The legislative wing of the civic body is also planning to write to the Centre to bring in an Ordinance to protect shops and commercial establishments from the sealing and demolition drive.

“The Bill should have been in place by now. We will write a letter to the Central government in this regard,” said Yogender Chandolia, chairman of MCD Standing Committee.

In the past two years, shops in rural and urbanised villages have been sealed and later de-sealed by the MCD.