The Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee has found large-scale encroachments by occupants in the Old Double Storey (ODS) market in Lajpat Nagar-IV and its vicinity during an inspection that it carried out on Friday.
"Encroachments have been made by the occupants both in front as well as in the back. Besides this, large-scale alterations/additions have been made by way of permanent and semi-permanent structures in flagrant violation of the law and usurping invaluable public land. The occupants have even unauthorisedly constructed up to four floors," said a statement issued by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC).
The sealing drive in the Capital is being conducted by the municipal corporations on directions of the Monitoring Committee. The statement was issued after traders in the market were lathi-charged by the police while they were protesting the sealing of their shops on Thursday.
Since the encroachments were extending up to four floors and were huge in nature, it was not possible by the enforcement team to remove the structures from public land. Therefore, on the directions of the Monitoring Committee, the properties were sealed, officials said.
A total of 346 properties were sealed during the drive on March 8, officials said. The market has over 700 shops.
The total space between the blocks is 60 feet and the common space in front of each of these blocks is 12 feet. The said common space, actually meant for the movement of the pedestrians and various other community services, has been encroached by the occupants.
"Protests were witnessed during the drive and at a few places, some miscreants resorted to the stone pelting which resulted in the injury of four police officials. A complaint in this regard has been filed," the statement said.
The market was developed and constructed by Land & Development Office under the Union Ministry of Rehabilitation in the 1950s and allotted to those who were displaced after Partition.
BLOCKED
The total space between the blocks is 60 feet and the common space in front of each of these blocks is 12 feet. It was meant for pedestrians and other community services, but has been encroached by the occupants.
