Provide enough spaces to rehabilitate traders: Watchdog chief

It's been a week since the sealing scare came back to haunt traders and small-time businessmen in the national capital, as the municipal corporation sealed a host of popular eateries and shops in posh city markets and other areas starting last week. The crackdown on "illegal" constructions and "misuse" of residential property or agricultural land for commercial use is expected to continue till the Supreme Court hears the matter on January 12. Fearing this drive, traders are approaching political parties and local leaders for respite.

The sealing drive was started again after the Supreme Court revived the Monitoring Committee that had ordered sealing of such units in 2006. Violence erupted in 2007 after over 5,000 commercial establishments were locked down in the city for misuse of residential premises for business. It led to the death of four persons triggering a breakdown of the law and order situation. According to the NDMC Act, use of rooftops/balconies for "commercial purposes" is not allowed. Last February, the New Delhi Municipal Council had sealed 22 rooftop restobars, cafes and pubs in Connaught Place after portions of two buildings — the roof and wall above Jain Book agency where a new pub was being set up —collapsed.

The other was the rooftop of Unplugged Courtyard, a popular pub. But the civic body continued to issue and renew licenses of these outlets till the incidents of collapse raised an alarm on the illegal practice. The civic body looking after Lutyen's Delhi then planned a stricter policy for issuing and renewal of licenses. As per the proposed change in rules, restaurant owners will now have to take an NOC from four departments —chief architect (of the Council), estate, fire, and tax.The chief architect's department will check the place for its 'structural stability', which was not the norm previously. Between 2006 and now, the sealed units have been de-sealed and re-sealed many a time. While some had received orders from the court after giving an undertaking, the others paid various charges to the civic body. However, action is being taken against those who have not paid the charges or still have not complied with the norms.

Bhure Lal, a former bureaucrat and member of the Monitoring Committee, told DNA, "Action against erring traders and such commercial establishments will continue till such time the exercise covers all the existing unauthorised units which have been destroying the face of the Capital. The civic agencies will have to provide adequate spaces to rehabilitate these businessmen. Illegal constructions cannot be supported."

A three-member committee has directed the three municipal corporations of Delhi to continue the sealing drive and re-sealing of the shops from where it left in 2007. Acting on orders of the committee, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), on December 22, sealed 51 restaurants and shops in the upscale Defence Colony market for "illegal" constructions.