PHOTOS: R.V. MOOTHY AND SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

AGONY AND ANGER: An aggrieved shopowner with his relatives at Greater Kailash on Monday after the sealing of their shop by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

NEW DELHI: Resuming its sealing drive after a two-day break, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Monday targeted two-dozen pieces of property in the posh Greater Kailash area in south Delhi. Some prominent showrooms, restaurants and guesthouses were sealed during the daylong exercise carried out in the presence of police and paramilitary personnel.

On Hans Raj Gupta Marg, a majority of palatial houses have been illegally converted into huge showrooms, shopping complexes and guesthouses. While last Friday, 116 units (shops and offices), whose owners had given affidavits promising to stop misuse of their property in residential areas, were sealed, 111 units were targeted on Monday.

So far 248 units have been sealed on Hans Raj Gupta Marg alone, while 447 units have been targeted since the drive began on November 8. The exercise has remained confined to the Central and South zones, where the majority of posh A and B category colonies are located.

Fresh affidavit

Though a large number of owners already vacated their premises, the MCD squads sealed them as they failed to submit a fresh affidavit stating they would not misuse their premises. The MCD has asked 44,000-odd traders, who filed affidavits earlier and against whom action is being taken, to file fresh affidavits.

Groups of traders protested against the MCD drive in various places and took out marches, including one towards the residence of Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken. Small protests were also held at Kamla Market, Sadar Bazar and Azadpur.

Panel directive

The Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee, looking into illegal and unauthorised constructions in the Capital, has asked the MCD to target motels which are being misused for marriage receptions and other commercial activities.

Agitated traders protest against the sealing operation at the Rajouri Garden market in West Delhi.

The committee has received complaints from residents and some social organisations that commercial activities in motels are not only disturbing normal life but also causing traffic snarls.

Complaints have mostly been received from border areas and around railway and bus stations, where motels are found in large numbers. The MCD has warned owners that if they fail to adhere to trade licence conditions, their motels will be sealed.

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