NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee on Monday directed Municipal Commissioner A. K. Nigam to step up the sealing drive against illegal commercial establishments in residential areas of the Capital, particularly on roads that are 80 feet or more in width and those falling in the posh A and B category colonies.

In its order, the Monitoring Committee has also asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to start sealing establishments of traders who had earlier filed affidavits but failed to give undertakings promising to stop misuse of their residential premises for commercial purposes. Similarly, the drive will also target traders who are still continuing with their businesses despite filing affidavits and undertakings.

These traders are mainly located in the A and B category colonies and on roads that are 80 feet or more in width. Around 18,000 traders had given both affidavits and undertakings and closed their shops, but the remaining 10,000-odd traders had failed to submit undertakings and some are still operating.

According to sources, the Monitoring Committee members not only expressed their displeasure over the slow pace of the ongoing sealing drive but also directed senior MCD officials to strictly follow the Supreme Court directions on the drive. They told the MCD officials that merely sealing 50-odd units a day would not serve the purpose, and more sealing squads needs to be pressed into action.

The Monitoring Committee members also held a meeting with Delhi Police Commissioner K. K. Paul who reportedly assured them of more police force for stepping up the sealing exercise.

Meanwhile, the MCD on Monday sealed eight commercial properties on Najafgarh-Jharoda Road falling in Najafgarh Zone. So far the civic body squads have sealed 5,274 premises since the drive was resumed last November.

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