As the the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) cracks down on illegal construction following the collapse of the Satya Niketan building, officials have sealed at least 56 gold and silver shops in Chandni Chowk’s Kucha Mahajani.
Traders from the area are raising concerns that jewellery and bullion worth crores of rupees remain locked inside the premises.
All India Bullion and Jewellers Association Head Yogesh Singh said that officials sealed the shops around 11.30 am after posting notices.
Traders claim that the MCD officials and the police arrived without prior notice. They alleged that officials pasted the notices and closed the shops located in several buildings at the same time. Some traders said they only understood the issue after the officials arrived.
The association further alleged that the notices carried old dates. According to media reports, one shared notice was dated May 12 and asked owners to stop unauthorised commercial use of basements within 48 hours.
"Basement of the property in question, directing thereby to stop misuse of the basement and bring the premises within the permitted use of Master Plan-2021 within 48 hours, as to why the aforesaid be not sealed for commercial activity," it read.
The association has raised concerns about the valuables sealed inside the buildings and the impact on traders. MCD has not responded to the allegations.
The move comes after a five-storey paying guest building collapsed in Satya Niketan. The PG was mainly used by students. The incident took place on September 6 and killed seven people, including five Delhi University students.
Initial findings from the collapse found that the 50-year-old building was unsafe for use. Operators allegedly filled the basement of the building with three truckloads of heavy construction waste.
A main support wall of the building was also removed to run a shop. The building had five floors, despite permissions allowing only two.
The police have arrested the PG owner, his son, the operator and a contractor. MCD has suspended five municipal officials, alleging negligence.
