Centre, Delhi government must approach SC over sealing drive: Congress

New Delhi, Jan 25 : The Congress on Thursday said that the central and Delhi governments should immediately approach the Supreme Court over the ongoing sealing drive here.

The two governments should also ensure amendment to the Delhi Master Plan 2021 and a status quo in relevant laws till a re-development plan is made, Congress Delhi unit chief Ajay Maken told reporters here.

He said the two governments should also clarify the anomalies in the matter, desealing basements and other premises immediately.

The former Union Minister demanded that the central government immediately bring an ordinance so that "people's life could be saved from destruction due to the sealing drive".

The sealing drive was initiated last month by the three Municipal Corporations as per the instructions of a Supreme Court-appointed panel.



The owners of city shops sealed either did not pay conversion charges -- the fee paid for converting residential premises into commercial one or flouted permitted FAR (floor area ratio) norms.

The Congress leader pointed out that while the traders and other affected people were approaching the Supreme Court after the sealing drive, the Aam Aadmi Party ruling in Delhi and the Bharatiya Janata Party that leads the government at the Centre are opting for shutdowns.

"The traders should have actually called for the strike while the government should have approached the apex court for relief," the former Minister said.

"This is happening because Delhi Chief Minister (Arvind Kejriwal) and the (Union) Minister of State for Urban Development (Hardeep Singh Puri) are not meeting people but keeping their doors shut."

"If they meet people, they can get suggestions from the public," he said.

He also accused the Municipal Corporations of only collecting money from the public to fill their coffers.

He said the Congress will prepare a plan by Friday night and approach the Centre and Delhi Lt Governor (Anil Baijal) to suggest amendments to the existing laws to give relief to the harried traders.

The Congress leader also accused the AAP and the BJP-led governments of misinterpreting the Delhi Master Plan brought in 2006.



"When we were in power, we brought the Delhi Laws (Special Provision) Bill in 2006. And the Bill was passed within six days in May 2006.

"We made several amendents in the Master Plan.

Both the central and Delhi governments should follow the same to ensure peace in the city," he said.

The Congress leader also urged the Delhi government to immediately notify pending roads.

--IANS

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Source: IANS