A PG accommodation in Sector 32, Chandigarh, caught fire which killed 3 girls on 22 February 2020. The incident forced the MC, Gmada, and police to challan unregistered PGs. However, their efforts have diminished since then.
Recent raids in housing societies found criminals were living in PG accommodations. Gmada constituted the PG policy which was not implemented in the past five years. A record given by the Gmada accounts that only 83 PGs are registered in Mohali against over 600 PGs in Mohali. The authority has directed that the PG owners are required to obtain a no-objection certificate from the Resident Welfare Association (RWA).
The lack of strictness in implementing norms has led to the emergence of illegal PG accommodations in Mohali. Two years after declaring that it would launch a drive to check unregistered PG accommodations in Mohali, Gmada has failed to do so.
While police claimed to have been conducting a drive to investigate the background of the people residing in PG accommodations along with registers maintained by PG owners. Police officials said that they do not have the power to seal the illegal PGs, this could be done only by the Gmada.
Former deputy mayor and current councilor Manjit Singh Sethi said that earlier this year, he raised an agenda to charge commercial rates for electricity and water from PG owners, but no action was taken by the civic body.
Sethi said that commercializing the power and water bills of such PG owners will curb the people opening PG accommodations. In such a manner opening illegal PGs will also reduce the diminishing risk of sheltering bad elements.
SSP Sandeep Garg said that area SHOs are directed to conduct checks at various PGs under their jurisdiction. He added that directions will be issued once again and get a weekly report from SHOs about checking PG accommodations and whether they were running in accordance with the policy or not.
Police officials could not provide any data of Challans served on PGs for the past two years, they said that the exercise had been discontinued because of the covid pandemic but would be resumed.
According to the Gmada policy, owners will need to pay Rs 10,000 as a processing fee for three-year to run a PG. The applicant would have to get permission renewed every three years.
Officials said that people who don’t get their PG registered would have to pay taxes applicable on the commercial property in addition to paying more as electricity bill.
Gmada estate officer said, “we issue notices based on the survey report. A PG is sealed only after a personal hearing. About 25 PG accommodations have been registered so far and we have sealed five. A survey would be conducted in coordination with the local police and final action taken once the survey was completed”.
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