From correspondents in Delhi, India, 12:30 AM IST

A total of 40 commercial establishments across Delhi were sealed Thursday, on day two of the renewed sealing drive.

With the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections coming close, the civic authorities went slow, sealing 40 commercial units as against 61 units Wednesday.

So far, 101 commercial units including beauty salons and travel agencies have been sealed since Wednesday. Civic officials are carrying out the drive under heavy security cover.

Last week, the Supreme Court had asked the MCD officials to resume sealing operations against all commercial units running in violation of the master plan 2021.

As per the direction, MCD officials had started action against over 55,000 shops covering 573 roads notified as mixed land use. These shops were operating from first floor and above and are illegal as per the new master plan.

The new plan that was notified on Feb 7 says that commercial activities can only run from the ground floor of mixed land use roads.

Of the 40 sealed shops, 22 were in the Civil Line zone and the other 18 in the south zone. In Nizamuddin area, the Bharat Scouts and Guides training school, which had been converted into a tent house, was also sealed.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)