400 paying guest facilities in Mohali, only 25 registered

Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) is struggling to check mushrooming of illegal paying guest (PG) accommodations in SAS Nagar as only 25 PGs are registered as against about 400 operating from various localities.

SAS Nagar

Cops during the checking of a paying guest accommodation in Mohali. . (HT File Photo)

Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) is struggling to check mushrooming of illegal paying guest (PG) accommodations in SAS Nagar as only 25 PGs are registered as against about 400 operating from various localities.

Following implementation of the PG policy to regularise to paying guest accommodations, GMADA had initiated a door-todoor survey earlier this year and had since sealed about five illegal facilities.

As per GMADA survey, more than 400 houses in SAS Nagar were providing paying guest accommodations to about 8,000 individuals.

Even police action against 115 house owners for not disclosing PGs failed to yield results.

GMADA officials say people don’t get their PG accommodations registered as they would have to pay taxes as applicable on a commercial property, along with paying more electricity consumption.

“Based on the survey report, we issue notices. It is only after the personal hearing that a PG is sealed. About 25 paying guest accommodations have been registered so far and we have sealed five facilities,” shared Rajdeep Kaur, estate officer, GMADA.

GMADA in February had implemented paying guest policy, clearly defining paying guests and differentiating them from tenants.

Earlier, house owners running paying guest accommodations were showing PGs as tenants by producing rent deeds.