30 establishments in Delhi's Khan Market may be sealed
Thirty establishments in Delhi's Khan Market are facing closure for civic violations: the NDMC says they haven't paid use conversion charges. The one-time fee is levied for mixed use of property. Last month, over 50 establishments were closed in Defence Colony and Chattarpur for the same reason. In Khan Market, several establishments operate shops on lower floors with eateries on the upper floors.
Use conversion charges were slashed by 75% in December
Under the Delhi Development Authority's Master Plan for Delhi 2021, traders have to pay the one-time use conversion charge for commercial activities in residential plots. Earlier, the rate was Rs. 89,000/sq meter, which was reduced to one-fourth, Rs. 22,274, in December'17. An SC-appointed monitoring committee had given all 106 local shopping complexes in Delhi till January 15 to pay up.
Traders association president denies receiving closure notice
The committee has ordered the sealing of first and above floors in Khan Market for misuse of land and violation of the Master Plan. But Sanjiv Mehra, Khan Market Traders Association President, has denied receiving any such communication. All 42 traders have already paid, he claimed, and their establishments legally converted. However, despite paying the charges, the market had seen no development, he said.
