South Delhi restaurants, shops and offices sealed
UNAUTHORISED USE Upper floors of establishments sealed across Defence Colony; Green Park, Hauz Khas on radar
NEWDELHI: Civic authorities shut down more than 50 business units including shops and restaurants in south Delhi’s posh Defence Colony market and Chhatarpur on Friday as sealing of unauthorised commercial establishments returned to the national capital after more than 10 years.
The establishments could be de-sealed if they furnished conversion charges and got their maps approved, municipal officials said.
The sealed establishments included Social, Moets, Swagath, Aka Saka and 4S, some of the most popular hang-out joints in Defence Colony. Municipal officials said these establishments were operating “illegally” from residential premises.
In Chhatarpur, at least 10 properties were sealed over Thursday and Friday for alleged misuse of agricultural land for commercial purposes.
All Defence Colony restaurants operating from floors above ground level were sealed. Some joints that had more than one storey, such as 4S, started operating from the ground floor late in the night. Amongst those fully sealed were Social, Moets and Jugaad.
The drive came barely a few days after the Supreme Court revived the powerful sealing committee to end rampant illegal construction and misuse of residential premises.
The last such drive in 2006 — also mandated by the top court — had led to the sealing of thousands of commercial establishments in Delhi — from grocery stores to top retail outlets, designer showrooms, and even a government building.