New Delhi, Feb 2 (UNI) In the wake of the directive issued by the Centre yesterday to local authorities and the Delhi government to stop sealing and demolition in the city, traders in Delhi today demanded immediate de-sealing of shops falling in areas specified in the National capital territory (Special Provision) Act, 2007 and which are sealed till date.

The demand was made by a delegation of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) which met MCD Standing Committee chairman Vijender Gupta.

A CAIT delegation will also meet Delhi government and DDA Officials very soon to press upon their demand.

The delegation, led by CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal, said since last more then a year thousand of shops had been sealed in the city, depriving lakhs of people from their livelihood without providing any kind of rehabilitation.

''With notification of the directive, the local authorities, including the MCD and the DDA are bound top obey directions of the Centre and, therefore, immediate steps should be taken to de-seal shop in unauthorised colonies, village abadi and its extension and in others areas,'' the delegation said.

Pointing out that large number of shops in the capital have been wrongly sealed in areas of unauthorised regularised colonies which enjoy a three year protection from any kind of penal action in master plan 2021, the delegation called upon Mr Gupta to ensure de-sealing of such shops and correct the wrong done by the MCD.

Mr Gupta assured the delegation that in view of directive issued by the Union Government, the MCD would initiate de-sealing process very soon and he himself would meet Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy tomorrow to take up the issue with him.

UNI AR SP KP2129