MC orders survey of illegal hotels built after 2021

Ludhiana: After receiving multiple complaints about mushrooming of illegal hotels in the city, the MC town wing has been directed to conduct a survey of hotels constructed after 2021. The directive was issued by the assistant town planner (headquarters) to all four assistant town planners (ATPs) of the MC zones after the chief vigilance officer of the local bodies department sought a report on the issue.A committee comprising assistant town planners and head draftsmen has been constituted for the exercise. Each ATP has been instructed to carry out a survey of unauthorised hotels constructed in their respective zones after Jan 2021. Officials have been told to submit detailed reports highlighting violations so that, after obtaining orders from higher authorities, necessary action can be initiated. The complainant and the chief vigilance officer are also to be informed about the action taken.The issue was raised by activist Rohit Sabharwal, who submitted a complaint on Feb 6, 2025, alleging the construction of illegal hotels in Ludhiana. According to the letter issued by the ATP headquarters office to zonal ATPs, officials had earlier been directed to take action on the complaint, but no action taken report was received.The matter was again taken up on May 26, 2025, when the chief vigilance officer constituted a committee and instructed officials to conduct inspections, investigations and surveys of the hotels mentioned in the complaint. Officials were told to implement necessary action as per rules and inform both the complainant and the vigilance department about the outcome. However, no report was submitted even after these directions.Officials said the absence of reports resulted in unnecessary delay in resolving the complaint. As a result, zonal ATPs have again been directed to conduct a fresh survey of the unauthorised hotels.According to the complainant, several hotel owners were violating building bylaws and most of the properties lacked adequate parking facilities, leading to traffic congestion in nearby areas. MSID:: 129978001 413 |