2.5 L commercial outlets don’t have licence

GHMC loses opportunity before ‘Unlock’ to implement rules and avert tragedy

Most of the 2.52 lakh commercial establishments in the city do not possess trade licence to run their business and they are not in compliance with fire safety norms.

That apart, many of the pubs, hotels, and eateries in Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, Madhapur, Gachibowli, Toli Chowki and other prime areas have neither renewed their trade licences nor have they obtained fire safety certificates.

Sources said that GHMC has been missing out on a golden opportunity prior to the ‘Unlock’ to implement the norms before tragedy strikes, like the unfortunate incidents in cities like Vijayawada. A major fire broke out at a hotel being used as a Covid-19 facility in Vijayawada on Sunday morning killing over 10 persons and leaving several injured.

In a knee-jerk reaction, corporation officials conducted a field verification and found out that most of the hotels, pubs, bars, restaurants, eateries and other commercial establishments in the city do not have permanent trade licenses and their trade licences that have long expired. On enquiry, corporation authorities learnt that property owners, hand in glove with bill collectors and assistant medical officers of health (AMoH), have been evading renewal of licenses thereby denting the corporation's revenue.

Lack of coordination between town planning, revenue and health wings has resulted in high-level manipulation and irregularities at the ground level.

Corporation sources said that influential persons have been evading trade license fees while setting up commercial establishments. They were not even meeting minimum standards pertaining fire safety and other parameters.

Sources said that at times officials were forced to refrain from taking action against violators, particularly because of interference of local political leaders and lawmakers. Despite several reminders, officials said that the commercial establishment owners did not come forward to apply for trade licence and fire safety certificate while giving Covid19 lockdown as an excuse.

However, corporation officials now claim that they will start a special drive and ensure trade licences and fire safety permissions in all commercial establishments were in compliance with the norms.

MANY OF the pubs, hotels, and eateries in Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, Madhapur, Gachi-bowli, Toli Chowki and other prime areas have neither renewed their licences nor have they obtained fire safety certificates.

Officials are hopeful of completing the process before unlocking pubs, bars and hostels.

A senior GHMC official confirming the lapses pointed out that the corporation would conduct manual inspections to verify about the status of valid trade license and fire safety permissions. He said that the corporation would immediately serve notices and again give 15 day-time to submit valid documents. Notices would also be issued to trade license officers and AMoHs of all circles before initiating action. He said that the GHMC would also tally the trade licence fee data with the non-residential property tax payers and find out the number of commercial establishments that have been paying trade licence fee but avoiding commercial property tax.

As per norms the commercial establishments will be asked to rectify the shortcomings in 15 days. If the managements fail to set up the fire safety equipment within 30 days from the receipt of the second notice, their establishments will be seized and trade licences will be cancelled. Depending on the establishment’s capacity, they are supposed to install different fire safety equipment. Emphasis should be laid on making sure the staircase is free, facilitating free movement of occupants in case of emergency.