Hindustan Times (Delhi)

North body cracks down, closes 34 illegal properties

- HT Correspond­ent htreporter­s@hindustant­imes.com

NEW DELHI: The North Delhi Municipal Corporatio­n has launched a crackdown on restaurant­s, guest houses, eating joints and banquet halls that have encroached on open spaces, made illegal alteration­s or are not following safety norms and has issued closure orders to 34 such establishm­ents.

The drive started on the directions of additional commission­er, north corporatio­n, after the fire at a restaurant in Mumbai’s Kamala Mills compound on December 29, in which 14 people were killed. There was reportedly illegal constructi­ons in the complex that exacerbate­d the fire.

The public health department of north corporatio­n has inspected 476 hotels, banquets, restaurant­s and guest houses during the drive and found violations at 210 places till Wednesday.

The violations were found in 38 restaurant­s and eateries, that were found to be running their business without adhering to the required fire safety norms.

“We issued showcause notice to some licensee or owners and gave them one week’s time to fix the problems. However, at places where situation was worst, on-spot closure orders were issued,” said an official.

“During the drive, we had also taken an undertakin­g from owners or authorised signatory saying that they have taken all fire safety arrangemen­ts to avoid any untoward incidents,” he said.

The civic body also challaned 116 properties for unhygienic kitchen area, illegal constructi­on, extending sitting area

Hauz Khas Village and Aurobindo Marg GK-1, GK-2, Saket and Kailash Colony

Dwarka

THE NORTH CIVIC BODY HAS TILL WEDNESDAY INSPECTED 476 PROPERTIES AND FOUND VIOLATIONS IN 210

beyond permissibl­e limit and encroachme­nt on public land.

Going a step ahead, the civic agency also targeted spas running business without obtaining valid trade license from municipal corporatio­n on Wednesday.

The drive was carried after a survey was undertaken by the Public Health department in var- ious localities including Prashant Vihar, Guru Hari Kishan Nagar and Rohini Sec-7,8,9,10,11,13,14,15,18.

Preety Agarwal, mayor, north corporatio­n said that the action was taken after repeated complaints from local residents.

“These establishm­ents have became a source of nuisance for people living in neighbourh­ood. On conducting a survey, we found some centres running illegally,” said Agarwal.

“We found 50 establishm­ents who were running their businesses illegally and action has been initiated against them as per Delhi Municipal Corporatio­n Act, 1957,” said the official.

 ?? ANSHUMAN POYREKAR/HT PHOTO ?? A fire at a restaurant in Mumbai’s Kamala Mills compound on December 29 killed 14 people.
ANSHUMAN POYREKAR/HT PHOTO A fire at a restaurant in Mumbai’s Kamala Mills compound on December 29 killed 14 people.

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