MCD may issue temporary licence to hotels ahead of CWG

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Thursday proposed to give temporary licences to illegal hotels, restaurants and guest houses in the national capital in the run up to the Commonwealth Games.

At the MCD standing committee meeting Thursday, members said temporary licences should be granted to the hotels operating illegally so that foreign visitors during the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games don't stay in unlicensed accommodations.

"Why doesn't the civic body give temporary licence to hotels, restaurants and guest houses particularly in Karol Bagh and Paharganj where a large number of popular illegally operating guest houses are situated," Vijendra Gupta, former standing committee chairman told IANS.

"There are over 1,000 hotels in and around the walled city functioning without licences. We propose that they be given temporary licences or else the foreign visitors during the Commonwealth Games would be staying in illegal outlets," Gupta added.

Meanwhile, MCD Commissioner K.S. Mehra said this would take time.

"The re-development plan, proposed to be completed by February 2010, is delayed since plan approval from the Delhi Development Authority is awaited. Because of this we are not able to issue licence to any guest houses, hotels or restaurants as of now," he said.