Municipal commissioners yet to survey roads to be notified

NEW DELHI: The commissioners of the three BJP-ruled municipal corporations on Wednesday said that they are yet to authenticate the survey on 351 roads, which are to be notified under the mixed use category.

During a meeting with a special committee of the Delhi Assembly, set up to inquire into the sealing drive, the commissioners sought more time for submitting the report.

These roads are to be notified under the mixed-use category, so that business establishments on them can be spared of the sealing drive, being implemented by the MCDs, against businesses using residential areas for commercial purposes without paying conversion charges.

Delhi Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain had alleged the MCD and the BJP-led Opposition was delaying the process of notifying the roads and causing trouble to traders with sealing and conversion charges. "We asked them for the relevant documents to notify the 351 roads. But the MCDs could not submit documents," Jain had said.

According to the Delhi government, the report it received from the commissioners was incomplete, which is why it did not approach the Supreme Court seeking its nod on the proposed notification of roads.

The commissioners said that they would collect the report and would submit after certifying it. The next meeting of the special committee, headed by Palam MLA Bhavna Gaur, is on next Monday.

It may be mentioned here that on Tuesday, a BJP delegation led by its Delhi unit president Manoj Tiwari met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, during which they demanded notification of roads.

During the meeting, Tiwari and other BJP leaders walked out, alleging "misbehaviour" by MLAs of the ruling- AAP and "anti-social elements" present there, a charge denied by AAP.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal confirmed that Kejriwal met him on Wednesday and discussed the sealing issue.

"Hon'ble Chief Minister @arvindkejriwal met me today & discussed issue of ongoing sealing of shops/commercial properties in Delhi. Informed him that already all possiblities are being explored, keeping in view judicial pronouncements & laws. Some solution would be evolved soon," the LG's office tweeted on Wednesday.