Delhi traders protest sealing of shops

       New Delhi: Hundreds of shopkeepers spilled on to the streets of Delhi on Thursday as part of a continued protest against a civic body's move to shut down commercial activities in residential areas on the orders of a court. For the past two months, Delhi has been under a virtual siege from the trading community as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) -- under court orders -- has unleashed workers and a fleet of bulldozers in a bid to restore order to chaotic, unplanned streets. The civic agency has sealed shops and commercial establishments in residential areas, many of them decades old and located in the heart of the city, though traders say they were fooled by corrupt civic authorities. Despite stiff opposition from traders the civic agency has continued with the sealing of shops and commercial establishments in residential areas. At several places, traders clashed with police and damaged public transport, as they resisted sealing of their shops by officials of civic agencies, helped by the police. Traders led in their protest by India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) marched through a street screaming slogans against Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Harshvardhan, the chief of the BJP's Delhi unit, said if their demands were not met they would continue to protest. "We have been protesting for the past three months but nothing substantial has come out. So we have decided to launch a peaceful protest (satyagrah) and we will go to the jail if need be to make our voices heard," he said. According to the trade bodies, the closure order would affect over 500,000 people directly making a living through this.

    The Urban Development Ministry had issued a notification amending the 2001 Delhi Master Plan allowing small shops to continue commercial activities on ground floors in residential areas under what was to be mixed land use policy but the apex court has not accepted the changes so far. Over the years, an alleged nexus between officials, builders and buyers has converted the sprawling city and its once green outskirts into a concrete jungle. Laws have been flouted to build shops in residential areas and extra floors were added with dangerously protruding balconies. Public parks have been encroached, kiosks have come up on footpaths and privately run car parks obstruct roads and paths. Fire engines have had to wait as parked cars are moved.

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