Gurgaon: Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) on Thursday resumed its sealing drive against unauthorised commercial activities in residential properties in DLF Phase 2, sealing four buildings, including three guest houses and an office operating from the basement of a residential building.The enforcement team, led by district town planner (enforcement) Amit Madholia, sealed the basement of a building at L-2/11, where a commercial office was operating in violation of residential land-use norms.At K-9/7, the team found a 16-room guest house operating from a residential property and sealed the premises. Another guest house in K-9 was also sealed. The fourth property, at 30 Akashneem Marg, was also sealed, as it was being used as a 17-room guest house.“Sealing action against unauthorised commercial activities in DLF Phase 2 will continue. Teams will remain in the field on Friday and Saturday, and the drive will be taken forward next week as well. Residential properties must be used in accordance with prescribed norms. Violations will invite action,” Madholia said.The previous major enforcement drive was conducted on Oct 12 in Sushant Lok-1’s B Block, where DTCP took sealing and demolition action against multiple violations. The team sealed six properties, including a building housing commercial offices, three unauthorised PG accommodations with a total of 52 rooms, a basement being used as a clinic and laboratory, and another basement operating as a godown and storage facility.It also demolished unauthorised leisure and servant rooms built in stilt areas and removed a DG set occupying the road right of way (ROW). The operation was part of the department’s intensified crackdown ahead of the Nov 23 deadline for submitting its action-taken report to Supreme Court.The drive had remained suspended for nearly a month. Its resumption comes amid legal proceedings concerning commercial activities in residential areas. On Nov 3, Supreme Court clarified that the pendency of proceedings did not, by itself, amount to an interim stay on enforcement action, allowing authorities to proceed in accordance with applicable rules.The court’s Sept 22 directions in the Loganathan case had also stated that commercial use of premises in areas exclusively earmarked for residential purposes should be dealt with through sealing action in the first instance. It had stressed that enforcement should be uniform and not selective.Following the court’s directions, DTCP had undertaken sealing drives against guest houses, paying guest (PG) accommodations, hotels and other commercial establishments operating from residential buildings across licensed colonies.Officials said the latest action was part of the department’s renewed crackdown on properties being used for commercial purposes without the requisite permissions. DTCP officials said residential properties cannot be used for guest houses, PG accommodations, offices or other commercial activities in violation of approved plans and applicable regulations.
