New Delhi, Feb 6: The Municipal corporation of Delhi today began the process of desealing in unauthorised colonies, ''village abadis''and their extensions in Delhi, as per the January 30 notification by the Centre directing local authorities to take steps to deseal properties which had been sealed by the corporation.

The desealing of properties began with the MCD removing the seals of properties in areas lying under the South zone. Standing Committee chairman Vijender Gupta had yesterday announced that the MCD would start desealing the sealed properties in unauthorised colonies, ''village abadis'' and their extensions from today following the January 30 notification by the Union Ministry of Urban Development.

Mr Gupta said the MCD was going ahead with the desealing despite the fact that the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee, in a letter sent to the MCD, had directed that no property should be desealed as per the January 30 notification.

Mr Gupta said that an affidavit has also been filed in the Supreme Court to this effect. He said that besides the MCD, various local bodies like the DDA, NDMC, Delhi Cantonment Board etc have also to take action on this notification.

'' However, not waiting for these local bodies, MCD has decided to start desealing,'' Mr Gupta said adding that, of the sealed properties, more than 70 per cent are to be desealed by the DDA.

UNI