According to the directives, the demolition of the fourth and fifth floors will be suspended till December 31, 2008. Upholding the Delhi Act bill, notified in September last year, the notification has directed all civic agencies to implement the exemptions extended to rural villages, like areas around Mehrauli and MG Road, unauthorised colonies and farm houses.

The act came as an extension of the moratorium provided by the Delhi Special Laws bill, introduced in May 2005, to temporarily stall the demolition drive.

The BJP, however, has alleged that the notification is a mere publicity stunt, as the bill was cleared more than three months ago. “They are merely trying to create confusion and an illusion of their concern for the public. They have merely issued directives to implement exemptions provided by the bill,” said MCD councillor and Standing Committee Chairman Vijender Gupta. “In fact, it was a lapse on the part of the Centre that delayed action, which should have been initiated three months ago,” added Leader of the House Subhash Arya.

According to Gupta, the MCD will not carry out demolition and sealing action on commercial establishments that came up before January 2006, unauthorised constructions as protected by the Masterplan 2021, till December 31, 2008.

“If they were concerned at all, they should have initiated an amnesty scheme that exempted every one. This bill only protects about 3,500 shops situated in Madhu Vihar, Sanjay Nagar, Saidulajaib, Neb Sarai, Razapur, Mahipalpur, Nangloi and Badli, which will be de-sealed by the DDA,” Gupta added.

Meanwhile, Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy said the directives on sealing and demolition issued on Friday, are legally valid. “I have given directions to three local bodies — the MCD, the NDMC and the DDA — and they have to implement the orders. I have been empowered by Parliament and I have given the directives accordingly,” Reddy said after a meeting with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and DPCC president Jai Prakash Agarwal.