Shut guest houses or face sealing: Huda

The Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) is all set to crack the whip on as many as 435 illegal guest houses identified in a recent survey. HT reports.

The Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) is all set to crack the whip on as many as 435 illegal guest houses identified in a recent survey.

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Residents living in Huda sectors have long been demanding harsh action as the guest houses are being operated from residential areas and are a big burden on the limited resources and already-stressed infrastructure in terms of water, sewer, parking etc.

Besides, there are regular altercations between residents and guests over issues of noise pollution, entry of outsiders and safety.

The department of estate office (EO), Huda, has completed first part of its survey and identified as many as 435 guest houses in various sectors. The second part is still under way to ascertain more violations.

Now, the department is in the process of issuing warning notices to owners to shut the guest houses in 15 days, failing which action such as sealing of premises, heavy fine and even resumption of plots can be initiated.

The notices will be sent to all 435 illegal guest houses in a day or two.Under Section 17(3) of the Huda Act, 1977, running guest houses in residential areas is illegal and an owner may also lose his plot.

“We give enough time to owners to close the guest house and give us an affidavit that they will not commit the violation in future. We will wait for 15 days failing which a sealing drive will begin,” said Narender Singh Yadav, Huda estate officer.

“Till now, we have surveyed sectors 4, 5, 10, 14, 15 (I&II), 17, 22, 23 and 23A among others. We have found maximum guest houses in sectors 22, 23 and 23A,” said a senior Huda official.

There are around 100 guest houses in Sector 23 and 23A, 92 in Sector 22 and 36 in Sector 14. The list is very long, said an official.