Major markets in the city were closed today, as traders downed shutters to voice their protest against the sealing drive by municipal bodies. A large number of traders, their family members and employees gathered at the Ramleela ground near Civic Centre, which serves as the head office of two municipal bodies — North Delhi Municipal Corporation and South Delhi Municipal Corporation.
“Thousands of traders are participating in the strike and shops are closed in all the markets in the city,” said Praveen Khandelwal, general secretary of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).
The busy markets of Sadar Bazar, Lajpat Nagar, Chandni Chowk, Karol Bag, Chawri Bazar and many more wore a deserted look in the morning. However, two major markets in East Delhi — Laxmi Nagar and Nirman Vihar — were partially closed.
In the last two-and-a-half months this is the third strike called by Delhi traders unions under the banner of CAIT. Traders alleged that sealing drive has affected the lives of nearly 40 lakh people!
According to official sources, around 4,000 commercial establishments have been sealed off by three municipal corporations in their respective areas in last two-and-a-half months. This drive was initiated on Supreme Court directive.
The apex court-mandated monitoring committee has earlier submitted its report saying that traders in the city had violated the Master Plan of Delhi. The committee also recommended a sealing drive to overcome the problem of illegal encroachment and illegal construction in all major markets of the city.
Another burning issue was illegal extension of shops without paying the mandatory conversion charges. This charge is levied on properties where commercial activity is not allowed and one has to pay this charge to convert the land use for the same.
MCDs thus issued notices to identified shop owners and started a sealing drive. In fact, a lot of shop owners received notices even today, and they were seen making long queues outside municipal officers to pay their dues.
