Urban News

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size

Notices issued to illegal hotels, inns in Golden Temple vicinity

Print PDF

Indian Express   15.10.2010

Notices issued to illegal hotels, inns in Golden Temple vicinity

Dharmendra Rataul Tags : Amritsar Municipal Corporation, Punjab and Haryana High Court Posted: Fri Oct 15 2010, 01:05 hrs

Golden Temple

One of the illegal hotels that has come up in proximity to the Golden Temple.
Amritsar:  Following directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Amritsar Municipal Corporation (AMC) has issued notices to at least 50 hotels and inns that have come up around the Golden Temple complex. In case a satisfactory reply is not given and commercial establishments fail to produce valid permissions, the structures will be razed. Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), filed by the Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO), the High Court had recently issued strict directions regarding rampant proliferation of hotels in the region.

Even the government-backed Galliara Scheme, which is meant to beautify the surroundings of Golden Temple and is reaching its final stage, had suffered a setback due to these activities. Around 90 hotels and inns have come up or are in various stages of construction in the area.

“After directions from the HC, notices have been served on 50 such establishments. We have given them some time to reply and then action will follow,” said Municipal Commissioner D P S Kharbanda. The next hearing on the PIL is on November 18 and the MC has to reply and submit an action taken report before the court by then.

Kharbanda admitted that many hotels had not procured no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the MC and the departments of health, sanitation and fire, adding that buildings being constructed were violating the permissible height limit of 38 feet. “There are serious allegations against the owners of hotels and inns. They will have to submit replies to our show-cause notices, failing which the action is imminent,” said Kharbanda.

Last Updated on Friday, 15 October 2010 11:02