Reuters AlertNet Lite - India resumes shop closure drive in edgy Delhi

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India resumes shop closure drive in edgy Delhi

08 Nov 2006 10:39:34 GMT
Source: Reuters

NEW DELHI, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Thousands of police supported municipal officers in the Indian capital on Wednesday in closing scores of illegal shops and other establishments as part of a court-driven move that has outraged traders.

In several areas of the sprawling capital, shutters, grills and iron gates of shops were sealed with red wax as armed policemen kept a wary eye on groups of sullen traders.

On Monday, India's Supreme Court ordered authorities in the city of 14 million people to resume their drive to shut about 40,000 shops, nursing homes, automobile workshops and computer institutes illegally operating in residential areas.

Trader groups say the move will result in financial ruin for thousands of shopowners -- many running their establishments for decades -- and job losses for hundreds of thousands of employees.

"How will I feed my children? They have shut down my business. My daughter is asking me to pay her tuition fee but I can't," said the distraught owner of a car repair workshop who gave his last name as Rana.

"I am an honest citizen doing business for years. Now I have been shut down by the government," the middle-aged businessman said in front of his shuttered workshop, its lock covered by white gauze and red wax.

Nearby, police, some armed with automatic rifles, kept a crowd of traders and onlookers behind a metal barricade.

Police reported no violence as squads of municipal officials sealed shops.

"We are on high alert and providing officials with adequate security cover," police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said.

Most schools remained shut on Wednesday, fearing trouble.

The civic clean-up started earlier this year after the Supreme Court said commercial outlets on at least 2,000 city roads passing through residential areas were illegal.

Urban experts say the infrastructure of New Delhi's already crowded residential areas has been unable to cope with the blossoming of new shops and other businesses over the years.

Traders argue there is a huge scarcity of commercial space in New Delhi, leaving them nowhere to go.

Last week, a three-day strike by traders shut markets and sparked violence. Three people died in similar protests in September.

Traders groups, backed by politicians, are asking the government to enact an emergency law that would overrule the court order and allow the shops to remain open. (Additional reporting by Prithwish Ganguly)

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Last updated:Wed Nov 8 10:40:39 2006