NEW DELHI: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) resumed sealing operations on Wednesday, targeting 23 pieces of residential property, mostly big showrooms and bungalows misused for commercial purposes.

The drive was targeted at those who continued with commercial activities even after filing affidavits to stop misuse of their residential property.

The daylong drive was peacefully completed in the Ashram and Safdarjung Enclave areas in South Delhi in the presence of police and paramilitary personnel. Big showrooms and office complexes, including CTC Plaza, a Bata store, a multistorey business centre, a hi-tech gymnasium and a couple of auto dealership units were sealed. Electricity and water connections were also snapped.

The MCD did not spare the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) headquarters operating from a rented four-storey building at Safdarjung Enclave. It turned down requests from TRAI officials to grant some time for shifting. Employees were seen removing important files and other documents.

The drive was suspended after violence during the September 20 "Delhi bandh" and the subsequent festive season. Though the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee asked the MCD to resume the exercise on November 2, the Corporation and the police refused to go ahead, citing law and order problems. The drive was resumed after the court refused to defer the action on November 6.

Unlike as on earlier occasions, the drive on Wednesday was carried out systematically. On clear instructions from the Monitoring Committee, the MCD teams began operations in the upmarket Ashram area. In the afternoon, the action shifted to Safdarjung Enclave.

Some property owners denied misusing their residential property but the MCD officials refused to listen to their plea.

With the drive starting early in the morning, showrooms and shops were sealed much before their opening time. Some affected people accused the MCD of sealing legal property also.

"I have been living in my house for the past two decades. I stopped misusing a portion of my property almost a year ago after the first direction from the court. But still my house was sealed and now I have nowhere to go," complained Dr. Prabha of Ashram.

Heavy deployment

There were protests by traders and their employees at a few places in east and northwest Delhi, but heavy deployment of security personnel helped in maintaining calm.

At least 40 arrests were made during the day, while over 150 detentions were made as a precautionary measure.

The Delhi Government has ordered reopening of all schools in the capital from Thursday.

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