Shops Reopen After 2-Day Strike Against Sealing, Traders Unhappy
Sealing drive is on against shops using residential areas for commercial purposes without paying conversion charges.
Shops to Keep Shutter Down for 48 Hours
In a bid to intensify the protests against the ongoing sealing drive carried out by the municipal corporations in Delhi, trade unions, on Friday, called for all shops to keep their shutters down for 48 hours. The traders threatened to extend the ‘bandh’ if the BJP-led civic agencies do not stop the sealing drive.
The bandh called by Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), an umbrella body of trade groups, affected markets in Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh, Sadar Bazar, Kashmiri Gate, Bhagirath Place, Defence Colony, Green Park, among other areas.
According to CAIT, all wholesale and commercial markets in Delhi were shut in protest against the sealing drive.
Praveen Khandelwal of CAIT, while slamming the sealing drive, said, “Almost 2,500 markets will be closed. Protest marches against sealing would be taken out by businessmen in around 500 markets. The ongoing sealing is very harmful to our economy.”
(With PTI and IANS inputs)
Dikshit Writes to PM Over Sealing Drive, Expresses Concern
Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing concern over the impact of the sealing drive on traders in the national capital, and suggested that legalities for mixed land use be notified.
"2,183 roads were notified to save properties practising business and trade. In the same order, basements were allowed to be used by professionals to ensure continuity of their profession. Sadly properties are being sealed even in the notified areas," she said.
The former chief minister claimed that the BJP had promised in its 2017 MCD manifesto that once convergence charges are paid, sealing would not take place for such properties, and they would be regularised.
Rajya Sabha Disrupted Over Kasganj Clashes, Delhi Sealing
Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha were disrupted on Friday as Opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), raised the issue of communal clashes in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj and the sealing drive in the national capital.
The AAP members led by Sanjay Singh trooped near chairman's podium and started sloganeering and accusing the Centre of ruining the lives of over seven lakh traders.
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien urged the AAP members to give proper notice on Monday over the issue. But they continued with with their protest.
The AAP went back to their seats, and the Question Hour continued after Azad spoke on the issue, and urged the Centre to "help the people of Delhi".
DDA Proposes To Bring Uniform FAR, Penalty Charges Reduction
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has proposed bringing uniform floor area ratio (FAR) for shop-cum-residence plots and complexes at par with residential plots – a move that will come as a big relief to traders facing threat of sealing, officials said on Friday.
The proposal, which hinges on an amendment to the Master Plan of Delhi, was approved during a meeting of the DDA held under the chairmanship of Lt Governor Anil Baijal at the Raj Niwas. The DDA, however, said provisions of parking as per the prevailing standards shall be mandatory for approval or sanctioning of any revised plans by local bodies in case of shop-cum-residence plots or shop-cum-residence plots designated as local shopping centres.
FAR is the ratio of a building's total floor area (gross floor area) to the size of the piece of land upon which it is built.
At the meeting, the DDA proposed to "allow commercial activity in the basements in all commercial streets and areas, subject to payment of requisite charges without any discrimination".
"Once the public notification regarding the amendment is issued, there will be three days for inviting suggestions and objections from people, after which it will again come up for review and then finally sent to the Centre for approval," a senior official said.
AAP MLAs Visit Markets, Back Bandh Against Sealing Drive
Several AAP MLAs and municipal councillors today visited markets across Delhi and offered support to the shutdown called by traders over the sealing drive in the national capital.
The party demanded immediate de-sealing of shops in Delhi.
"There is widespread resentment in the traders against the MCD and DDA for delaying the relief to the traders," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) party said in a statement.
The AAP claimed that traders were "cautious" about the actions of the MCD and the central government as the sealing has not been stopped.
"The bandh continued inspite of pressure from the BJP to call off the strike after the DDA meeting," the statement said.
Delhi Markets Reopen After 2-Day Strike Against Sealing
Calling off the two-day strike, The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) released a statement saying, "After two days of Delhi Trade Bandh called by CAIT against sealing, the markets in Delhi opened today restoring the business activities to normal trade though markets observing Sunday as weekly holiday remained closed.”
"The proposals of DDA (Delhi Development Authority) for amendment in Master Plan 2021 are very confusing since every proposal contain certain riders and conditions which are difficult to follow and as such the basic object of bringing proposals to provide relief to traders from sealing will be highly defeated, according to prominent traders," it said.
CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said it appeared that the DDA proposals were drafted "in great haste without considering its compliance obligations and impact".
"It will be more appropriate if the central government suspends the sealing, by bringing a law in the Parliament, for at least six months, and during this period after having a detailed and thoughtful study, the proposals to amend the Master Plan should be drafted to give relief from sealing," he said in the statement.
Markets in the national capital reopened on Sunday after a two-day strike by thousands of commercial establishments protesting against the recent sealing drive by the Municipal Corporations of Delhi.
The shutdown called by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) had popular markets like Connaught Place, Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh, Kamla Nagar, Khan Market, Lajpat Nagar, Defence Colony, South Extension, Greater Kailash, Green Park, and Rajouri Garden, among others keep their shutters down on 2 and 3 February.
In the last few weeks, more than 600 shops in Delhi have been sealed for allegedly using residential properties for commercial purposes.
- Shops reopened on Sunday after two-day strike
- Trade unions, on Friday, called for all shops in Delhi to keep their shutters down for 48 hours in protest
- The sealing drive is on against the alleged use of residential areas for commercial purposes
- The DDA has proposed bringing uniform floor area ratio for shop-cum-residence plots and complexes at par with residential plots
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