The Hindu : Front Page : Big showrooms sealed in G.K.-1

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006
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Big showrooms sealed in G.K.-1

Staff Reporter

161 properties targeted; drive also took place on Najafgarh-Nangloi Road

NEW DELHI: After a weekend break, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi resumed its sealing drive in the Capital on Monday, targeting 161 shops and offices in South Delhi. The drive mainly covered the posh Greater Kailash-I area falling under `A' category where no commercial activity is allowed on residential premises. Sealing action also took place on Najafgarh-Nangloi Road in Outer Delhi.

Accompanied by a large number of police and paramilitary personnel, the MCD squads sealed more than two-dozen residential properties on Hans Raj Gupta Marg in Greater Kailash-I. The police cordoned off the road to prevent any disruption.

At least 64 units were sealed in Greater Kailash-I. The MCD squads targeted not only big showrooms, including those of a leading electronic goods company (Sony World), boutiques and jewellery shops, but also sealed shopping arcades and business complexes having shops, offices, beauty parlours and restaurants. They also sealed a guest--house and a hotel (Rani Castle).

Though most of the properties had been vacated by their occupants, the MCD sealed these premises since their owners had not converted them back to residential use. The MCD sealed them to prevent any further misuse.

Though traders whose properties were sealed stood around while the drive was on, a strong presence of police and paramilitary personnel ensured that there were no major protests. However, traders accused the civic body of targeting even vacant properties and those no longer being used for commercial purposes. For its part, the MCD ensured that the entire drive was video-graphed as proof of the commercial nature of the properties being sealed.

Another MCD team carried out a sealing drive on Najafgarh-Nangloi Road in Najafgarh Zone. The civic body targeted illegal showrooms and shops. Some restaurants and a few hazardous units were also sealed.

Since the sealing operations resumed on November 8, the MCD squads have targeted 1,145 units in four zones. Major sealing drives have been carried out in the South and West zones where several prominent showrooms and branded stores have been targeted.

The MCD also removed encroachments from public land and demolished ongoing unauthorised constructions during a daylong drive at Mangolpuri in North-West Delhi. Action was taken against 61 shops, while illegal portions of several structures were razed.

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