NEW DELHI: Contradictory actions by various Government agencies on the issue of sealing of illegal commercial establishments running in residential areas in the wake of the Supreme Court order has left traders in the Capital confused and they have no clue on how to deal with the situation.

Shop owners

On Friday the Union Urban Development Ministry promised early notification of the Master Plan for Delhi-2021 with major amendments allowing mixed land use in residential areas, bringing cheer to the business community as it felt that it would pave the way for legalising their shops and escape sealing.

However, on Sunday morning they were shocked to see a public notice issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in various newspapers asking all shop owners illegally running their establishments from residential areas to submit an affidavit in their respective zonal offices before March 28 pledging that they would cease to function by June 30.

Clarifying that no action would be initiated against shops operating in areas where mixed land use is allowed or against those shops that have come before 1962 when first Master Plan was implemented, the public notice stated that all those who are running shops from areas where mixed land use is not permitted will have to give an affidavit pledging to remove their establishments before June 30.

"There is no scope of confusion as we have already published a list of roads in various newspapers on which commercial activities are not allowed. Those who fail to submit affidavits before March 28, their shops would be sealed.

A shopkeeper just needs to give the details of his shop on a stamp paper and submit it at our zonal offices and not in any court" said a civic body spokesperson. However, the response from traders on Sunday was poor as only a few of them turned up at the civic body's zonal offices to submit their affidavits.

"We were anticipating rush at our office but not even a dozen shop owners submitted their affidavits, probably it being Sunday. But we are not sure whether more traders might come on the remaining two days because they are confused, particularly after the announcement regarding changes in mixed land use policy," said a South zone official.

Echoing similar sentiments, Confederation of All India Traders' general secretary Praveen Khandelwal said traders were adopting a wait and watch policy as on Monday the Centre was likely to announce some sops regarding the mixed land use policy that would provide relief to a large number of traders.

Stamp papers

"Moreover, traders have also reported artificial shortage of stamp papers by vendors who are selling them at very high prices. We will lodge a complaint with the government on the same," he said, demanding that the time limit fixed for filing the affidavit should also be increased.

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