As many as 21 restaurants were sealed in south Delhi’s Hauz Khas village on Saturday for not having proper environmental clearances to operate.

The sub-divisional magistrate of Hauz Khas, Ramchandra M Shingare, who conducted the sealing operation along with Delhi Pollution Control Committee and Delhi Police officials, said the establishments were served closure notices about four months ago.

Owners, however, said they were not given any notice.

Raj Kumar Dhingra, member of Hauz Khas Village traders association said out of 12 restaurants running in his building, six were closed in the absence of no objection certificate received from Delhi Pollution Committee and from the joint commissioner, Delhi Police.

The permission, officials said, is mandatory for ensuring that there was no water and air pollution. However, the 21 sealed establishments, most of which are takeaway joints according to the sub-divisional magistrate, didn’t have it.

The sealing action has been conducted under section 33A of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and section 31A of Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, within 15 days.