28 PGs in Gurugram sealed for pasting ads on public spaces, defacing property

The officials said the civic body has already removed seals from 25 errant properties after their owners deposited a fine of ₹25,000 each for defacement of property and illegal advertisement under provisions of the Haryana Municipal Act.

The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) sealed 28 paying guest (PG) accommodations in sectors 23, 38, 39 and 40 over the past three days after their owners were found to have defaced public property with their “available accommodations” advertisements, officials said on Tuesday.

The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) sealed 28 paying guest (PG) accommodations in sectors 23, 38, 39 and 40 over the past three days after their owners were found to have defaced public property with their “available accommodations” advertisements. (Photo by Sunil Ghosh / Hindustan Times) (HT Photo)

The officials said the civic body has already removed seals from 25 errant properties after their owners deposited a fine of ₹25,000 each for defacement of property and illegal advertisement under provisions of the Haryana Municipal Act.

As per officials, it was the first time that MCG officials sealed PGs in the city since the formation of the civic body in 2008. “Across the city, we noticed that people had pasted hoardings, and stuck pamphlets on walls, electric poles illegally asking people to contact them if they were looking for PGs. We traced the owners of these PGs through the mobile numbers and addresses listed in the pamphlets and hoardings, and subsequently sealed their establishments,” said Saurabh Nain, executive engineer of MCG.

“We decided to take stringent action this time around by levying heavier fines by cracking down on violations such as illegal advertisement, and also sealing properties of such violators,” he said.

MCG officials said they took notice of illegal advertisements for PGs during their ongoing operation against political hoardings, which are deemed illegal under the model code of conduct for the 2019 general elections.

Last December, MCG officials had realised that only 10 PGs in the city were registered with them. MCG officials estimate there are nearly 5,000 PGs operating in the city. MCG has since initiated a survey to determine an exact number of such establishments.