By IANS
New Delhi : De-sealing of illegal commercial establishments in the capital will be renewed with greater vigour. The civic authorities Thursday held a meeting and discussed a blueprint to hasten the process.
“Senior officials met Thursday to work out an effective action plan for de-sealing unauthorised constructions. We will advertise in print and the electronic media to let people know the types of unauthorised constructions which will be de-sealed,” Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) spokesman Deep Mathur told IANS.
He said de-sealing would pick up momentum once the civic authorities were ready with the blueprint. “The de-sealing has not been put on hold,” he said. No properties, however, were de-sealed Thursday.
“Just because no unauthorised property was de-sealed Thursday does not mean that de-sealing has been put on hold. It will be incorrect to draw inferences,” Mathur said.
The civic authorities Wednesday launched de-sealing drive in south Delhi, following a government notification issued Jan 30. Only one property was de-sealed. The notification has frozen all sealing activities till Dec 2008.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi Feb 5 filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court apprising it of the de-sealing process and the central government’s Jan 30 notification.
Over 3,000 properties that were padlocked under the Supreme Court order for violating the Delhi Master Plan 2021, are expected to be covered under the government notification. Over 1,500 unauthorised colonies in the capital will also get some respite.
Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy Jan 30 notified: “Notwithstanding any judgment, decree, or order of court, steps will be taken by the local authority to maintain status quo as on Jan 1, 2006, in respect of encroachment or unauthorised development, including de-sealing.”
The Supreme Court is going to review Delhi’s Master Plan Feb 13. The plan will sanction new areas for commercial activity.