SDMC passes policy to defer sealing of hotels, motels

New Delhi: The Standing Committee of South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) on Wednesday decided to frame a policy to allow motels and hotels to hold social gatherings in open areas. The aforesaid policy has provisions to defer the sealing of hotels, motels and farmhouses motels within the Corporation's jurisdiction.

Earlier, the preamble of the policy was introduced and approved by the Standing Committee. The move was initiated after the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee directed the SDMC to immediately seal motels, hotels and farmhouses.

Sources said that to find a ways to avoid sealing of motels within its jurisdiction, a meeting was also held on Tuesday in the office of SDMC Mayor Narender Chawla, which was attended by Standing Committee Chairperson Shikha Rai, Leader of House Kamaljeet Sehrawat and Commissioner Dr Puneet Kumar Goel.

According to the new policy, the definition of pandals, motels and hotels have been changed, thus bringing relief to owners of sprawling party lawns where opulent weddings and functions are organised.

The Standing Committee was called after the Monitoring Committee, on October 16, wrote a letter to the commissioners of all three Municipal Corporations and Delhi Development Authority, directing them to seal illegal units immediately.

"In continuation of the previous orders dated September 28, and the subsequent remainder on October 4, the Committee has decided to take immediately sealing action against the motels where shape and size are not as per sanctioned building plan and occupancy (completion) certificate. The seal shall be affixed in such motels at entry points", the Monitoring Committee said in its letter.