Where they stand
A look at where the major stakeholders stand, who they blame, and what they suggest can be done as an alternative to the sealing
DELHI GOVERNMENT ARVIND KEJRIWAL, Delhi chief minister and AAP founder
Your stand on sealing: The way MCDs are going about the drive is wrong. No notices are being issued prior to sealing shops
Who can stop it: It is something which the Centre and the L-G could have easily avoided by either changing the floor area ratio in the Master Plan or by bringing an ordinance to stay the ongoing sealing drive
What have you done to stop it: We have sought time from the L-G and also written to him. Our government is also going to move the SC for a temporary stay
Alternative to sealing: Amending the Master Plan
AAP SAURABH BHARADWAJ, AAP spokesman
Your stand on sealing:
Sealing drive is a clear attempt by BJP-ruled civic bodies to harass traders in the name of conversion charges. The civic bodies have collected crores as conversion charges but where is the money
Who can stop it: It’s only the BJP at the Centre or the L-G who can stop the drive. The Centre should bring an ordinance to stay it while L-G can push for amending the Master Plan 2021 to change FAR norms What have you done to stop it: We have been requesting the Centre and L-G to resolve it Alternative to sealing:
The solution for now remains waiving off the conversion charges. In future, the MCDs should ensure that the building bylaws are not violated
BJP MANOJ TIWARI, Delhi BJP chief
Your stand on sealing:
Sealing must immediately stop. We are ready to go to any institution, which is capable of restricting the action against traders
Who can stop it: There must be a system to stop future illegal construction. This is the responsibility of all institutions What have you done to stop it: We are knocking at every door... The MCDs have passed a resolution proposing enhancement of FAR, commercial use permission for basements, and exemption from conversion charges Alternative to sealing:
Emergency Assembly session should be called to give nod to MCDs’ resolution. That needs to be forwarded to the Centre by the Delhi govt for issuance of notification
CONGRESS AJAY MAKEN, Delhi Congress chief
Your stand on sealing:
Ongoing sealing is illegal, it must stop. Conversion charges should not be taken after 10 years. Provisions of Delhi Master Plan 2021 should be implemented in true spirit
Who can stop it: The Centre, state govt and MCDs must work together. Govt can make policies and MCDs can execute them after a notification like the Congress govts (in Centre and state) did in 2006 What have you done to stop it: We have prepared a set of solutions... We are seeking an opportunity to meet monitoring committee to submit it Alternative to sealing: Relief grant by MPD should be passed on to the traders. Political parties should work in tandem to resolve the issue
MCD PREETY AGARWAL, MAYOR, North Delhi Municipal Corporation
Your stand on sealing:
Sealing is being ordered by the monitoring committee constituted by the SC. We are only implementing it
Who can stop it: It can be stopped only with the support of Delhi govt. But the government is not co-operating in notifying 351 roads for commercial and mixed land use What have you done to
stop it: We have called special meetings and a joint meeting of 272 councillors to pass resolution on the issue Alternative to sealing: We listed solutions in the resolution passed in joint meeting like increasing permissible floor area ratio, allowing commercial activities in basements, waiving off interest among other measures