Days after the Karol Bagh Hotel fire incident, the Resident Welfare Association (RWAs) of the Walled City area have started filing series of complaints with the Delhi Fire Services, Municipal Corporation and Delhi Home Department about illegal hotels running in their areas posing a threat to the common people. Interestingly, the North Municipal Corporation appears to be completely ignorant as even after Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) had informed the civic body, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and Discoms about violations of environmental norms.
The RWAs swung into action after a major fire broke out recently at Hotel Arpit Palace in Karol Bagh, in which 17 innocent lives lost. The hotel was running illegally violating safety norms. However, several complaints were made to DPCC regarding the said violation earlier in October.
The apex body of the Walled City Resident Welfare Associations, filed a complaint about ‘Vaishnaw Hotel’ running illegally with a kitchen constructed on rooftop. The Hotel situated at three plots 23, 25, and 639 at Gandhi Gali and Church Mission in Fatehpuri area.
“There are more than 40 hotels and lodges running illegally without any proper sanction from the authorities. We have also filed various complaints and court cases against encroachment, trade of spurious liquor, boot-legging, anti-social elements at the heritage sites,” said Vishal Pandey, member of RWA.
The RWA first filed a complaint with DPCC about environmental violations as the hotel was carrying activities using diesels and releasing sewer water in the common public. These hotels have three to four storey building with around 35-40 rooms in each.
Following the complaint, DPCC conducted a survey in December 2018 and found that the “Vaishnaw Hotel’ is operating and engaged in the activity of Hotel of 45 rooms with a Kitchen on Roof. Waste water is released in the public sewer without any treatment, no channelization provided for kitchen emissions and Diesel Generator (DG) set installed at terrace with acoustic enclosure,” stated the notice issued by DPCC.
After which it has issued a show cause notice to the Hotel owner, Sub-Divisional Magisterial (SDM) to shut the hotel with immediate effect. It also issued notice to the to North MCD Delhi Jal Board, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL), Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (DSIIDC) to can cancel the license/permission of operations of the said unit, cut the water and electricity supply with immediate effect.
After 2018, the DPCC has again issued notice to all the civic bodies and concerned authorities on January 24 to take immediate action saying the Hotel is running a Kitchen on roof but ignoring the authority none of the department and civic bodies took any action.
Moreover, in its reply to the complainant, the North MCD replied, “There is no any Kitchen in the said guest house. It is running with valid health trade license.”
“The places that comes under the Fatehpuri area have different rules and bylaws. Thus, Delhi fire Services (DFS) will take action accordingly,” said GC Mishra, Chief Fire Officer, DFS.
Also, the RWA too, without taking a step back, filed another complaint to DPCC, Chief Minister of Office (CMO), Delhi Home Department and Delhi Fire Services against the Vaishnaw Hotel.
“The Hotels by Dalip Kumar Sharma is being operated illegally violating all the norms and fire safety rules in connivance with the fire officials of fire station S.P. Mukerjee Marg. There are more than 100 rooms in the hotel premise with a kitchen on the roof top but the North Civic body has clearly refused that there is any kitchen even though DPCC has confirmed of such unit is operating. Hence, it is clearly visible that the local police, SDM, fire officials and civic bodies is involved in criminal and corrupt activity,” said the Walled City RWA.
