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`No Ordinance now'

Sujay Mehdudia

Centre to seek more time from Apex Court

NEW DELHI: Ruling out the possibility of an Ordinance to tackle the situation arising out of sealing of commercial premises in the Capital's residential areas, the Centre is understood to have decided to approach the Supreme Court seeking six months' time to settle all issues including finalisation of the Master Plan for Delhi-2021 and identifying roads and areas for commercial activity under the new mixed land use policy.

According to highly placed sources, the demand for an Ordinance by the Congress Members of Parliament from Delhi as well as MLAs is not under consideration of the Union Urban Development Ministry for the present. The Ministry has prepared a strategy on how to approach the issue in order to get maximum relief for people of Delhi. The authorities are reportedly worried over the increasing unrest and agitation by traders and people, and the damage it can cause to the Congress.

"As the Parliament session has already been convened, it is not possible to bring out an Ordinance. It has been decided to approach the Supreme Court to seek six months' time to sort out the mess. It would be prayed before the Court that as the new Master Plan was already in the final stages and the local authorities were planning a new policy on the issue, the sealing drive be stayed till then," sources said.

Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy reportedly held consultations with officials and his junior colleague Ajay Maken on the strategy to be adopted.

Mr. Reddy apparently is annoyed that instead of approaching him the Congress MPs led by Union Minister Kapil Sibal chose to rush to the Press on the issue.

"Mr. Sibal is part of the Cabinet and if at all he had to raise this demand, he should have taken it up with the Prime Minister or Mr. Reddy during the Union Cabinet meetings," sources remarked.

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