The MCD on Tuesday sealed three guesthouses in the Paharganj area. The civic body had already sent notices to more than 20 guesthouses in connection with non-payment of conversion and parking charges.
The three sealed premises were Ved Palace and Ved Hans in Gali Ram Nath Patwa and Hotel DRS in Dariba Pan. The sealing exercise was carried out with the help of the local police. At least 18 more guesthouses have been sent showcause notices and they have been asked to reply within 48 hours.
The action against the remaining guest houses or hotels will continue to be taken on a case-to-case basis, said MCD officials. The deputy commissioner of Sadar Paharganj zone had ordered the sealing exercise on the ground of “misuse” of the properties.
According to the officials, the guesthouses or hotels sealed Tuesday afternoon have failed to produce any document in support of proper authorisation from the civic agency for continuance of their businesses. The structures had not been sanctioned under any building plan or any regularisation plan, said the officials, adding that they were also not registered under the special area provisions of the Master Plan for Delhi-2021. Also, they had not produced any document establishing that they had paid the conversion and the parking charges as required under the MPD-2021, Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, and other building bylaws.
MCD standing committee chairman Yogender Chand-olia also dismissed the argument of the traders that certain hotels and guesthouses were being targeted. He said that every trader had to follow the rules of the civic agency and, if the MCD wanted, it could have sent notices to the nearly 150 guesthouses that still do not have the licence.