MCD seals 7 guest houses, 40 shops in Gaffar Market

To crack down on unauthorised construction, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday sealed seven guest houses and about 40 shops at Gaffar Market in Karol Bagh, much to the chagrin of the traders.

To crack down on unauthorised construction, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday sealed seven guest houses and about 40 shops at Gaffar Market in Karol Bagh, much to the chagrin of the traders.

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However, MCD Leader of the House Subhash Arya has demanded that the sealing should be stopped immediately. He said that till the time the special area redevelopment plan of Karol Bagh is prepared, the buildings should be allowed to maintain status quo.

The traders have however decided to go on a strike on Thursday to protest the sealing. They alleged that they were forced to sign undertakings saying that they will remove illegal constructions from their shops on their own. The undertakings were signed last month when the sealing notices were sent. “But before we could remove the alleged encroachments, they started sealing,” said Ram Lal, president, Gaffar Market Traders Association.

The deputy commissioner of Karol Bagh zone, DV Verma, has however denied any such undertakings. He said the only understanding between the traders and MCD was that any shopkeeper, who removes his own encroachments before his hearing and produces an affidavit to the same effect, will be spared of sealing by the department.HTC