Delhi Sealing Drive : De-Sealing Drive in Delhi, Delhi Master Plan 2021 , Your Voice on Delhi Sealing

The Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Vijender Gupta, has directed the Municipal Commissioner to ensure that the civic body does not resume sealing of commercial activities in rural areas around Delhi as ordered by the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee.

At a meeting of the Standing Committee here on Tuesday, Mr. Gupta said: “The Master Plan for Delhi-2021 has equated villages and rural areas with ‘special areas’ like the Walled City and its extensions. This is in accordance with section 4.2.2.2 of the Master Plan which states that any redevelopment plans in the areas should ensure the permissibility of mixed land use. As the socio-economic development in these areas has been substantial, it is our duty to safeguard the interests of rural merchants and vendors.”

Mr. Gupta said “double standards” that the Government had adopted in treating this issue were not acceptable. “I will request the Municipal Commissioner to apprise the Monitoring Committee of the special status of village populations under the Master Plan-2021.”

Responding to calls from several municipal councillors that vendors and small-time business men in rural areas be exempted from the sealing drive, the Standing Committee Chairman said: “The Master Plan recognises that villages are characterised by a mix of different land use. It is important that these areas continue to play an important economic role.”
Report

Mr. Gupta also directed the Engineer-in-Chief to submit a detailed report on the hiring of vehicles for special magistrates on duty.

As of now the hiring expenses were being sourced from the MCD account XL3D-4, which is supposed to be used only for civic works and engineering purposes.