Municipal authorities on Thursday demolished basements constructed by 21 shopkeepers facing the main road. As per norms, there is no provision for a basement in INA market.

"The shopkeepers had extended basements up to 10-12 feet beyond their shops. Most of the basements were about eight feet deep. They were being used as showrooms and storehouses," said an L&DO official present on the site, on the condition of anonymity

In a desperate bid to stop the action, a delegation of traders met the monitoring committee in the afternoon. The committee asked the shopkeepers to file an affidavit and demolish the basements on their own. "They have to do the needful within a week. But action against other kinds of encroachments inside the market wn continue," said B.L. Vohra, a member of the monitoring committee. The shopkeepers, however, had not filed affidavits until evening.

Alleging that they were being treated unfairly, shopkeepers said they will try their best to 'save the market from extinction'. "We are trying to meet Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken to seek temporary reprieve," said Ramesh Bhutani, president of INA Traders' Association.

The shopkeepers' primary concern now is the encroachments inside the market. Most of them have put up pillars on public land to support illegal extensions on the upper floors. If Land and Development Office (L&DO) decides to demolish the pillars, these portions will come down. In this case, the market may have to shut temporarily