New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS) A government ruling allowing businesses to come up in low-income residential areas has run into trouble from traders and residents. What will be the fate of these businesses, they ask, if the areas grow one day into high-income neighbourhoods?

The urban development ministry, the Delhi Development Authority and Municipal Corporation of Delhi have agreed that on roads in residential areas categorised as E, F and G on the scale of income traders will be allowed to set up shops on the ground floor of houses.

But traders already hit hard by a court-backed sealing of shops functioning in this manner now say this does not solve their problems.

"This is simply a temporary arrangement. You cannot allow mixed land use in certain colonies. When they grow economically, you will throw them away," said Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general of Confederation of All India Traders.

"There should be proper rehabilitation of the ousted traders. They should at least get commercial place at subsidised rates," he said.

Representatives of residential welfare associations (RWAs) agreed.

"The government must come up with a long term solution. Traders who constitute a huge portion of our society must get commercial space at subsidised rates," said Sanjay Kaul, who heads the United RWAs Joint Association.

In line with a Supreme Court directive, civic authorities have been sealing commercial establishments in residential areas. Since Sep 1, more than 1,000 such units including high profile restaurants and showrooms have been closed.