SDMC seals parts of 135 shops in Meher Chand Market

The ongoing sealing crackdown reached the upscale Mehar Chand market on Wednesday where basements and upper floors of 135 commercial establishments were sealed by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC).

The drive is being conducted on directions of the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee.

"The members of the Committee were also present at the site of action. The members inspected the shops in the market and thereafter asked the officers of the Building department of the Central Zone, SDMC to take immediate sealing action against unauthorised constructions in the basement and upper floors," a senior SDMC official said.

"This was the biggest sealing action so far where we sealed 135 out of 153 shops in the market. Two banks, the State Bank of India and Dena Bank have been given two days to wind up their operations, as they were found having unauthourised constructions," he added.

Located near Lodhi Colony, Meher Chand market, which came up to rehabilitate traders after Partition, became a popular hangout zone with a total of 153 shops including eateries, coffee shops and boutiques.

The sealing drive comes after action by the New Delhi Municipal Council against restaurants in Khan Market. On Tuesday, terraces and open spaces of 16 establishments including popular eateries and shops were sealed in the area.

On January 5, 56 establishments including showrooms of auto majors in south Delhi's Vasant Kunj were sealed by the SDMC for "misuse" and "encroachment" of property.