DefCol market sealed on SC-formed panel's order

New Delhi: The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) on Friday sealed the Defence Colony market. The Corporation said that the move was initiated following an order from the committee set up by the Supreme Court on March 24, 2006, to seal premises where residential properties are being used for commercial activities.

The committee comprises former Advisor to the Election Commission K J Rao and Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) Chairman Bhure Lal. According to the SDMC officials, all shops except ground floor ones that had not paid conversion charge to the Corporation for converting the residential complex to a commercial one have been sealed.

"Fifty-one commercial units in SDMC South Zone, Defence Colony Market, were sealed on Friday for not depositing conversion charges as per provisions of the Master Plan, 2021. Both members of the Hon'ble Supreme Court appointed Monitoring Committee reached Defence Colony at 11 am and ordered the sealing of the first floor and above situated commercial units in buildings from one to 51 as none of them had deposited conversion charges. The action has been taken in all floors except the ground floor," informed an official.

The official added that Defence Colony was earlier known as a shopping-cum-residential complex wherein the ground floor was meant for commercial activities and 1st floor for residential purposes. After the enforcement of the Master Plan, 2021, the market was termed a local shopping center and 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 sq m.

It is reported that commercial units are being run in South Extension, Green Park, Hauz Khas and Greater Kailash markets.