NEW DELHI: Officials of Delhi Development Authority (DDA) said that amendments to Master Plan Delhi 2021 (MPD 2021) to give relive to traders will take time to be implemented and the only definite way to immediately cease the sealing drive is by an interim stay order from the Supreme Court.
"We have done our best and made the public notification period only three days instead of 45 days. But all of these laws will take time to be implemented. If the traders are looking for immediate relief, the chances are less," said a senior DDA official, who added that the Authority will also meet the SC-appointed Monitoring Committee to discuss the implementation of the plan.
"Everyone is politicising the issue. MCD has the authority to stop the sealing drive and give us time to implement. But neither civic agencies nor the government is ready to pacify the issue," the official said.
He further said that in this situation, intervention from the SC can only bring immediate relief to the traders.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had earlier said that the Delhi government will ask the SC to impose a temporary ban on the sealing drives across the city.
Meanwhile, the market shutdown called by trade associations across Delhi continued into the second day on Saturday.
Several MLAs and municipal councillors of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party visited markets across the city and offered support to the shutdown, while demanding immediate de-sealing of shops.
"There is widespread resentment among the traders against the MCD and DDA for delaying the relief to the traders," said chief spokesperson of AAP and Greater Kailash MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj.
He added that the bandh continued in spite of pressure from BJP to call off the strike after the DDA meeting
The traders believe that DDA meeting had no visible impact on the ongoing sealing drive, he added.
On Friday, the DDA approved changes to the city's Master Plan, in a move to provide relief to traders hit by the sealing drive.
The proposed changes include increasing the floor area ratio (FAR) of commercial establishments; permission to run businesses in the basement; and the decrease in conversion charges.