City hotels told to obtain trade licence or face sealing

To tighten the noose around hospitals, restaurants and major commercial establishments violating trade licencing norms, the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has decided to deal strictly with them.

To tighten the noose around hospitals, restaurants and major commercial establishments violating trade licencing norms, the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has decided to deal strictly with them.

HT Image

The corporation issued a directive to six hotels in New Gurgaon last week asking them to obtain trade licences in a month's time, else their premises would be sealed.

The defaulters have been operating without licences since June 2008, when the MCG was constituted.

This has caused losses worth lakhs of rupees to the civic body.

"Nearly 50% of the hotels, restaurants, companies and other commercial giants have not obtained trade licences from the last four-and-a-half years. As per sections 330, 331, 335, and 336 of the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act-1994, a trade licence is needed for running commercial business. Not doing so amounts to violation of Section 337 of the Act which entails sealing of the premises and imposing penalty," said a senior MCG official.

"This is second time that the corporation has issued a directive to top commercial giants for violating trade licence norms. A similar directive was issued to 17 hotels and big companies six months ago," said the official.

"We've sought help from the fire service department which maintains a list of all big residential and commercial establishments. More than 40% are still flouting the trade licencing norms. By March 2013, we will be able to achieve the 100% target," said the MCG official.