MCD, Police Seal Shops In Delhi Posh Defence Colony Market; South Ext, Green Park, Greater Kailash Next?

(Photo: Vijay Pandey/Outlook)

In a statement, the SDMC said, members of a Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee, Bhure Lal and KJ Rao, were present during the sealing action.

"Both the members today reached the Defence Colony at 11 AM and instructed for sealing the first floor and above situated commercial units in buildings, from 1 to 51, as none of them had deposited conversion charges," the SDMC said in the statement.

The action was taken pertaining to all floors except the ground-storey.

"It may be recalled that the Defence Colony area was earlier known as shopping-cum-residential complex wherein ground floor was meant for commercial activities and first floor for residential purposes.

"After coming into force of the Master Plan 2021, the market was termed as local shopping centre; (owners) of the first and second floors were allowed to open commercial units on one-time payment of conversion charges at the rate of Rs 89,000 per sqm.

"It is understood that commercial units are being run in the South Extension, Green Park, Hauz Khas and Greater Kailash Markets," the civic body said.

Most of the commercial units at first and second floor had not deposited conversion charges though the civic body was pressing hard to do so, it alleged.

Many shop owners, however, alleged that the police stormed the marked?on Friday?afternoon and started shutting down the shops without prior notice.

“Respected CM ji,we are occupants of Defence Colony market where MCD guys have come in today with police force and are sealing first , second floors ..without any notice....we seek your urgent help and mercy,” shop owner wrote on Twitter.

A shopowner in the market said the MCD had asked for the conversion charge in 2010 for which shopowners had already paid the amount. "I have already paid more than Rs 6 lakh to the corporation," he said.?

(With PTI inputs)