Following the apex court’s direction to the MCD to complete the sealing exercise within three months, Sheila Dikshit and Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta held a high-level meeting with Municipal Commissioner K S Mehra on Tuesday.

“We will give 45 days to these people to willingly close their shops,” said MCD Standing Committee chairman Vijender Gupta.

This means the sealing drive will actually pick up pace only after 45 days, when it will have another month and a half to comply with the apex court’s direction. It, however, does not mean there won’t be any sealing action till then; the ongoing drive will continue. On Monday, 29 properties were sealed in the Capital, 16 of these being from Shahadra (S) alone.

Gupta said people should be aware that according to the Masterplan-2021 those undertaking commercial activity in mixed land use areas can get this activity legalised by paying conversion charges along with 8 per cent interest latest by March 31, if they have got themselves registered already. Those who have not got the registration done and not paid conversion charges would have to pay 10 times penalty along with conversion charges, he added.