The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has issued notices to 25 to 30 shopkeepers in Palam, directing them to deposit applicable conversion and misuse charges within three days or stop commercial activity immediately. The action has triggered objections from local traders, who say the notices were served late and target shops providing basic daily necessities.
The notices were issued by the MCD’s South West Zone, also referred to in the report as the Najafgarh Zone. The corporation said the action relates to the operation of commercial activities in violation of applicable rules. Shopkeepers were asked either to pay the prescribed charges or discontinue business operations.
According to local traders, the affected establishments include grocery shops, barber shops and other outlets selling household essentials. They said the shops serve everyday needs in the Palam area and questioned why notices had been issued to 25 to 30 establishments when similar commercial activity is visible in other parts of the locality.
The traders also alleged that the notice was dated October 5 but was pasted on October 7 at around 4 pm, after the stated compliance period had already substantially elapsed. They said the three-day deadline did not provide adequate time to respond or arrange payment. These allegations were reported by Live Hindustan – NCR and were not independently confirmed in the supplied material.
The dispute highlights the practical difficulty faced by neighbourhood businesses operating below or within residential buildings in Delhi. While such shops provide access to groceries, personal services and other essentials close to homes, their operation is governed by land-use and municipal regulations, including requirements linked to conversion and misuse charges.
MCD officials said commercial activities cannot legally be conducted in Delhi without payment of the required conversion charges. The corporation said it was maintaining continuous surveillance of establishments allegedly conducting commercial activities illegally and was taking action under the applicable rules.
The officials also said the matter would be resolved through discussions with the shopkeepers. The traders, meanwhile, have asked the administration or government to create a commercial complex for around 100 to 150 shops, or provide another arrangement that would allow them to continue their businesses.
The immediate issue for the affected establishments is the three-day compliance direction mentioned in the notices. The MCD’s stated next step is to engage with the shopkeepers while continuing action against commercial activity that it considers unauthorised under the applicable rules.
