Delhi's dates with demolition | De-sealed | Your Say

FATE SEALED: Govt has issued notification legalising all encroachments made till Jan 2008.

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New Delhi: The sealing drive in Delhi has seen several violent protests, and has been stuck in the pull and push between the government and the Court.

It all began in 1996, when the Supreme Court ordered closure of small industries in Delhi's residential areas by December 31, 1999. By the year 2000, only 39,000 units had been closed, leaving a vast bulk untouched.

Six years later in February 2006, the MCD started sealing commercial establishments in residential colonies, only to end the drive in May after the central government introduced a bill suspending sealing.

The Bill however did not go down well with the Supreme Court which, in August 2006, termed the law invalid and ordered the sealing to continue

As traders launched violent protests, the heat was soon on the Congress government in Delhi, and the DDA tried to find an escape route, making amendments to the master plan, allowing businesses to be set up in residential colonies.

The Supreme Court on its part gave relief to traders by putting off sealing till October 31, 2006.

But as traders went on violent protests in the city, the Centre told the Supreme Court that sealings could not go on because of the deteriorating law and order situation -- an argument that the apex court rejected.

In November 2006, the government prepared a new master plan for Delhi, allowing mixed land use, according to which shops on over 2000 roads could function.

Sealing of shops on roads not mentioned in the list started again on March 28, 2007.

In between, the Congress lost the municipal elections, in which the BJP emerged triumphant.

In August 2007, the MCD demanded another moratorium on sealing, only to be turned down by the Supreme Court.

Since then, the MCD had gone slow on its sealing drive, as was expected in view of the coming Assembly Elections.