Traders bring down shutters against sealing

NEW DELHI: All commercial activities came to a standstill on Tuesday as several shops in various markets of the capital were shut down as part of a day-long Delhi Trade Bandh called by an industry body to protest against the ongoing sealing drives by the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee.

Sealing action is being taken against commercial establishments for non-payment of conversion charges or for alleged violation of civic norms such as encroachment or illegal construction.

The agitation, held under the umbrella of the Confederation of All India Traders’ (CAIT), has affected markets of Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Chawri Bazar, Kamla Nagar, Karol Bagh, Kashmere Gate, Khari Baoil, Naya Bazar, Bhagirath Palace, Paharganj, Rajouri Garden, Connaught Place among others.

The CAIT has claimed that scores of trade associations across the city have joined the bandh.

The municipal corporations in north, south and central Delhi have been carrying out sealing drives, which started late last month with action taken against more than 50 shops in Defence Colony Market on the direction of apex court-appointed monitoring committee.

Several wholesale and commercial markets across the national capital on Tuesday kept their shutters down to protest against the sealing action, the CAIT said, which it reiterated was in blatant violation of statutory provisions of the DMC Act.

“The traders are demanding that the central government should protect the traders from sealing by bringing an ordinance and an amnesty scheme on building and commercial activities,” said CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal.

The trade promotion body also demanded notification of 351 roads in Delhi for commercial or mixed-land use.

“The local shopping centres were given on commercial rates and now conversion charge is being demanded and in case of non-payment, sealing is done without giving any notice, which is unjustified,” Mr Khandel said.

“The entire sealing operations are being run in a dictatorial manner keeping aside the DMC Act, 1957,” he added.

All the three major parties in Delhi, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which also controls the three municipal corporations, have extended their support to the traders.