Gurugram: Illegal guest houses running unabated

Gurugram: Guest houses that are not registered with the authorities continue to be a major problem in the city. With a large number of visitors frequenting Gurugram daily, many guest houses and PGs have come up in the city over the years. The recent survey conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) reveals that there are more than 200 guest houses operating illegally in the city.

Many more guest houses are believed to be functioning illegally as the latest list of illegal guest houses are all in the jurisdiction of HUDA.

With MCG having not mentioned the number of illegal guest houses functioning in its jurisdiction, the number of illegal guest houses is only expected to be much larger than the present list. Earlier, owners did not register their guest houses in order to avoid paying property taxes. Now, the illegal guest houses have become a major hub for carrying out criminal activities. Most of the arrests in the illegal sex racket that have been busted by the Gurugram Police have been made from illegal guest houses. In addition to the sex racket, arrests have also been made in connection with the drug cartels running from these guest houses.

While activists claim of a lackadaisical attitude of the public authorities towards curbing these illegal guest houses, officials at major public agencies mention that action is being taken against illegal guest houses. Being in high demand, these guest houses are also resulting in losses to the state exchequer. High demand has resulted in most of the houses having been converted into PGs or guest houses. However, as these buildings are not registered legally, most of the buildings do not get basic facilities like water and power from the public agencies.

With more than five storeys, most of the PGs are built in an area of 150 to 200 square yards.

Further, most of the landowners in lieu of greater profit are taking in more tenants than the overall capacity. Even though notices by the Department of Town and Planning (DTP) have been sent to these landowners in the past, no concrete action has been taken

against them.

Speaking on the major criminal activities that have been busted in the illegal guest houses, a senior police official from the Gurugram Police said, "In the past, there have been some drug cartels that have been busted in these illegal guest houses. However, in the recent past, the team of Gurugram Police has busted a large number of sex rackets in these guest houses. The Gurugram Police along with other public agencies will continue to take action against these illegal guest houses that encourage criminal activities."