Delhi govt submits notification over mixed-land use in SC

HEARING OF THE CASE RELATED TO SEALING IS SCHEDULED ON APRIL 2 IN THE SUPREME COURT

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Monday submitted notification regarding 351 roads for mixed-land use category in the Supreme Court.

The government needs the apex court’s approval before notifying these roads.

The move will pave the way for legalising commercial establishments on these roads and protect them from sealing.

“We have submitted a notification copy in the Supreme Court seeking its approval. Once the Supreme Court allows it, the Delhi government will issue the notification for these 351 roads,” urban development minister Satyendar Jain told reporters in the Delhi Assembly premises.

In 2006, the Delhi government had notified around 2,500 roads as commercial or mixed-land use but 351 roads were left and for which the government has been blaming the BJP ruledMCDS citing “certain deficiencies” on the part of civic bodies.

On February 7 this year, all the three municipal corporations had submitted an authenticated survey report on the 351 roads to the urban development department.

The file pertaining to the notification of the 351 roads under mixed land use was sent to lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal for approval on the same day.

Jain also said that the government, as demanded by the Congress and the BJP, has appointed senior lawyers Arvind Dattar and Parag Tripathi to represent sealing case in the Supreme Court.

“Centre or the DDA should also appoint big lawyers like Harish Salve so that the sealing issue can be put strongly before the apex court,” the minister demanded.

On March 6, the top court had put a stay on proposed amendments to the Delhi Master Plan 2021 that sought to protect traders from a sealing drive in Delhi by increasing the floor area ratio (FAR).

The sealing drive is being carried out by municipal corporations against commercial establishments, following the directions of the Supreme Courtappointed Monitoring Committee for allegedly violating the norms. On mixed land use streets, commercial use has been restricted to the ground floor, after paying a conversion charge.

Hearing of the case related to sealing is scheduled on April 2 in the Supreme Court.