Hindustan Times 24.11.2010
MCD pushes back action by a weekIn a reprieve to Paharganj guesthouses, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi did not go ahead with its planned sealing action in the area on Wednesday. The civic body has kept in abeyance the sealing of unregistered guesthouses and hotels in the city's tourist hub of Paharganj for a week.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has decided to allow guesthouse owners to submit the necessary documents.
MCD commissioner KS Mehra said the owners have been given time to comply with the requirements of the showcause notice issued to them.
On Tuesday, three guesthouses in Paharganj were sealed by the MCD for allegedly not registering their premises and violating other guidelines.
MCD Standing Committee Chairman Yogender Chandolia said time has been given to the owners after they claimed they have all the necessary documents regarding their regularisation and will need some time to submit the same.
MCD had issued notices to these and 18 others guesthouses on November 18, asking them to show cause within 48 hours, regarding the status of their premises.
In addition to this, there are 150-odd more guesthouses that are functioning without licence.
Officials said these structures had not been sanctioned under any building plan or regularisation plan and were not registered under the Special Area Provisions of the Delhi Master Plan 2021.
The guesthouse owners had earlier claimed that they did not register themselves because they come under the special area designated in the Delhi Master Plan 2021.
The status quo has to be maintained till the Master Plan is approved by the Supreme Court, said office bearers of hotel associations.
