Another chance to legalise hotels around Golden Temple

AMRITSAR: Punjab local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said on Saturday the state government has given another chance to legalise operations of around 215 hotels located in and around the Golden Temple ‘galliara’ (periphery). The fee has been cut by half.

Addressing a press conference at Partition Museum here, Sidhu said that it was a long-pending demand of the hoteliers. He said the last (SAD-BJP) government ahead of the 2017 assembly elections had started the process of legalising the units but “due to its high fee”, the hoteliers could not get the benefit, and the last date of applying was April 29, 2016.

He said the Amritsar Walled City (Recognition of Usage [Amendment]) was enacted in 2017 and a special provision was needed to cut the fee by 50%. “A meeting of the cabinet under CM

Capt Amrinder Singh was held and the special provision was granted without discussion.”

Now, the beneficiaries can get usage of their buildings recognised by submitting information (application) by January 31, and the competent authority — MC

commissioner — will have to take a final decision regarding their recognition by July 31.

He said applicants have to fulfil conditions of fire safety and have to furnish structural safety certificate from the designated institutes.