Sealing drive: MCDs to target use of stilts for commercial purposes in residential areas

The ongoing sealing drive, which was restricted to local markets, will now be extended to residential areas.

The Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee on Monday directed the three civic bodies — South, East and North Delhi — to identify residential buildings where stilt parking is illegally used for commercial activities.

In a letter to the three municipal commissioners, the committee said that during site inspections it was discovered that most stilt floors were being misused.

“In the Delhi Master Plan 2021, stilts are allowed only for parking. But these are used for godowns, store or guardrooms and coaching centres,” said a member of monitoring committee on the condition of anonymity.

The committee asked the commissioners to seal such floors and submit an action taken report by February 28.

Provisions for stilt parking in residential neighbourhoods was included in Master Plan 2021. It became mandatory for all new residential constructions coming up in plots over 100 square yards.

“After this, the permissible height of the residential premises was increased from 12 to 15 metres.Of the total height , 2.4 metres was allowed for stilt floor. And if the plot owner managed to get permission from the fire department, they were allowed to increase the height to 17.5 metres,”said a north corporation official.

In July 2017, the SDMC had issued a circular asking owners to submit an affidavit or undertaking, saying they won’t misuse stilt spaces, when the building plan is sanctioned.

“In the circular, it was mentioned that if the parking area was misused, the civic agency would be free to take action, including revocation of the building plan or completion certificate” said an MCD official.

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The sealing drive started in Delhi from December 22, with the monitoring committee taking action against commercial establishments for non-payment of ‘use conversion charge’, misuse of properties, and illegal constructions.

Agitated traders took the matter with civic authorities and political parties but failed to get any respite so far.

Till now over 1,500 commercial establishments have been sealed in city. On Monday, the SDMC sealed nine properties Najafgarh area while EDMC targed 31 properties for non payment of conversion charges and running commercial establishments in nonconforming areas. .