The Times of India 17.08.2012
No crackdown on hotels flouting norms
NEW DELHI: Guesthouses and hotels flouting building and health norms continue to go unchecked, if one goes by a report released by North Delhi Municipal Corporation. In the last three years, the erstwhile MCD sent only two notices and challaned just 51 such hotels in north Delhi.
However,
councillors trashed the report at the standing committee meeting of
North corporation, saying that the figures are incorrect. Standing
committee chairman and councillor from Karol Bagh, Yogender Chandolia,
said in Karol Bagh alone there are more than 700 guesthouses, hotels and
restaurants. "The report doesn't have correct information. This shows
officials aren't doing their job".
On the mushrooming of illegal guesthouses,
he said, "Since the split, the corporation has no control over these
hotels, guesthouses and restaurants. However, none of the guesthouses in
Karol Bagh are ever sent notices. The report is a mockery of the
corporation," he said.
Officials said that they will prepare
another report with complete figures so that they can crack down on all
guesthouses and hotels operating illegally. While the three corporations
have vowed to come down heavily on these buildings, councillors say
that to boost income, trade licences should be dolled out.