NEW DELHI, 22 September 2006 — Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has set up a ministerial-level group to look into the issue of commercial business zoning violations in residential areas of the capital city. Four people have been killed in violence related to protesting the city’s efforts to close establishments in violation of commercial zoning regulations.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court ruled that the city was rife with unregulated violations of building and commercial codes. Subsequently, the city instigated a sealing drive in an effort to stop the violations of commercial zoning, but ended the campaign for a day following protests earlier this week. Headed by Home Minister Shivraj Patil, the so-called Group of Ministers organized to investigate the matter includes Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
Twenty-nine shops were sealed on Wednesday. On the same day shopkeepers took to the streets to protest the sealing campaign. Thirty-two people were arrested in the clashes with riot police. The city then suspended the sealing drive yesterday in order to review security measures for officials seeking to seal businesses in violation of commercial zoning rules.
“Delhi Police said they cannot provide us with any forces today, and till we get adequate security the sealing of properties cannot continue,” said Municipal Corporation of Delhi official Parimal Rai. The government is likely to call a parliamentary session to consider a constitutional amendment on the controversy over sealing of commercial establishments in residential areas.
Hundreds of extra police were patrolling India’s capital yesterday after three people were killed in violent protests against a government move to seal shops operating illegally in residential areas. Police battled brick-throwing mobs in their thousands on Wednesday, firing tear gas and then bullets to disperse them, killing a teenager and two men in New Delhi’s crowded northeast.
