Recently, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has stirred controversy by issuing show cause notices to over 30 shops in Kamla Nagar market, situated in north Delhi. The notices allege that these shops are conducting commercial activities in properties designated for residential use. According to sources familiar with the matter, if the shops don’t respond within three days, their properties could be sealed by the MCD.
The range of shops targeted by the notices encompasses various businesses including apparel stores, tattoo parlors, and salons. Copies of these notices have been reviewed by Hindustan Times (HT), shedding light on the severity of the situation.
Nitin Gupta, president of the Kamla Nagar traders’ association, expressed concern over what he perceives as harassment of legitimate businesses. Gupta highlighted that many of the shops are situated in areas like Mandelia Road where the process for notification as commercial or mixed land use has already been initiated by the MCD. He questioned the rationale behind serving notices to traders who have already paid conversion charges.
One of the show cause notices, issued by the building department of Keshavpuram zone, explicitly accuses the premises of misusing the designated space for commercial activities, thereby violating the sanctioned use outlined in the Master Plan 2021. The notice invokes Sections 345 A and 347 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, signaling the possibility of sealing the premises if a satisfactory response is not provided within the stipulated time frame.
Traders have been directed to submit a reply within three days, explaining why their premises should not be sealed due to unauthorized commercial activities. Additionally, they are required to file affidavits pledging not to misuse their properties in the future.
In response to inquiries, an MCD spokesperson clarified that a survey conducted in December targeted the payment of misuse and conversion charges in Mandelia Road (Kamla Nagar). The notices have been issued to owners and occupiers of commercial establishments found misusing their premises. They are urged to provide proof of payment made to the MCD for any misuse charges. However, units operating with non-permitted activities are instructed to cease operations immediately.
This development in Kamla Nagar is not an isolated incident. Delhi has witnessed several sealing drives in the past, particularly in commercial hubs, over issues ranging from land use violations to non-payment of taxes. Notably, the city experienced a significant sealing and demolition drive in 2006, affecting over 5,000 properties. Subsequent interventions by the central government led to the enactment of the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006, aimed at safeguarding numerous properties.
Despite these legislative measures, sealing activities have resurfaced periodically, with the monitoring committee reinstating its powers in December 2017. Recent instances include sealing drives in prominent markets like Chhatarpur, Defence Colony, Amar Colony, Greater Kailash, Green Park, and Meharchand Market. These actions reflect ongoing efforts to enforce compliance with land use regulations and municipal laws in the national capital.
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