Delhi Sealing : Delhi Traders in trouble
18 04 2008There are over two lakh traders in the city who operate from rented properties in commercial areas. Most of them pay less than Rs 3,000 a month as rent for shops in prime locations. The Supreme Court order could lead to their eviction.
The market areas where a large number of such shops are located include Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Walled City, Chawri Bazar, Kashmere Gate, Paharganj, Daryaganj, Ajmeri Gate, Asaf Ali Road, South Extension and Kalkaji. There are about one lakh such properties in the city.
The shopkeepers functioning from these rented properties, however, are not willing to go without putting up a fight. Said Praveen Khandelwal, president of the Confederation of All India Traders: “This decision affects 45% of the shopkeepers in the city, and just like in the case of sealing, the judgment pertaining to one case has been extended to the entire city. In the past three years, traders have been affected negatively by various decisions taken by the government and courts but not once has anyone spoken of rehabilitation for us. There are still 6,000 to 7,000 traders who have been unemployed for a year now due to sealing.”
He said traders would ask the government to intervene and, if need be, even approach the Supreme Court. “To save the livelihoods of lakhs of traders, we may take to the streets once again,” he said.
The traders say the Supreme Court’s argument that more commercial space is available now ignores the fact that the rentals at such places are too high for most traders. They say they are paying low rents now as they had paid a security deposit at the time of renting the shop.
Said Muri Mani, president of Karol Bagh traders association: “The new Delhi Rent Act, which had got the approval of Parliament and the President in 1995 was opposed by us and was not notified. It favoured the landlords, which will be the case even now. This will have a very negative effect on trade in the city, especially wholesale trade, and will be a hindrance to development of the city.”
Shopkeepers say they have spent the better part of their lives establishing goodwill in a particular market area which will all get jeopardised now.
