Protesting against the ongoing sealing drives in markets across the city, traders in several parts of south Delhi kept their shops shut on Friday.
Shop owners under the banner of the Federation of Local Shopping Complexes and markets, shut shops in South Extension parts-I and II, Greater Kailash parts-I and II, Defence Colony, Green Park, Hauz Khas, Kailash Colony, and Meherchand Market.
The main reason behind the protest was that in several of these markets traders alleged that shops were sealed despite paying the conversion and parking charges.
K.P. Vij, from the South Extension Traders’ Association, said that the protest was to focus on three major points.
“We have demanded that the sealing drive be stopped till June 30, to increase the floor area ration up to 300 and also to de-seal the basements that were targeted recently because we have made payments for its commercial use,” he said.
Sealing continues
However, this did not stop the municipalities from continuing with the sealing drives on Friday.
The North Delhi Municipal Corporation sealed around 76 shops in markets around Prashant Vihar, New Qutub Road, and Old Lajpat Rai market.
Scores of traders in Old Lajpat Rai market came out in protest against the sealing drive, which has been ordered by the Supreme Court appointed monitoring committee.
The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) also conducted the sealing drives in markets in Saket, Sundar Nagar and Rajouri Garden.
The SDMC said that the garages of units were sealed in Saket, first and the upper floors of 21 shops were sealed at Sunder Nagar, 34 units including a branch of the HDFC bank was also sealed in B.K Dutt Market, Rajouri Garden.
“This is not a drive that the municipality has initiated. Unless there is an order we cannot stop the sealing,” a senior official of the SDMC said.
