The Hindu 03.03.2010
MCD sealing drive suspended
Staff Reporter
| As traders turn up in large numbers to submit their dues |
NEW DELHI: The ongoing sealing drive of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi against commercial properties on 2,538 notified roads in its area for non-payment of conversion charges was put off in the Central Zone on Tuesday after traders turned up in large numbers to submit their dues.
According to a senior MCD official, the Central Zone received Rs.4.38 crore as conversion charges this past week and Rs.1.58 crore on Tuesday alone. The zone includes areas such as Greater Kailash Part-I, Lajpat Nagar, East of Kailash, South Extension and Bhogal.
However, the drive would be intensified from Wednesday in South Zone and Rohini Zone where the civic body is planning fresh sealing of properties after overcoming the problem of lack of adequate police personnel and other staff.
According to MCD spokesperson Deep Mathur, the civic body has been undertaking sealing action only against shops and commercial establishments whose owners have failed to deposit the necessary conversion charges. About 500 such properties have already been sealed by the MCD from February 2009 to February 2010.
“All properties on the 2,538 notified roads which have not paid up the due conversion charges for commercial usage of residential property as required under mixed land use have been temporarily sealed by us. This is not permanent sealing and is only till the property owners pay up the conversion charges,” Mr. Mathur said.
“Our main aim is to collect these charges and not to seal properties. We want to give defaulters an opportunity to clear their dues. We usually give the defaulters a 48-hour notice before we seal their premises for non-payment of charges. These properties are required to pay the conversion charges as per the Master Plan for Delhi-2021,” he added.
