Delhi hotel fire: Municipal Corporation of Delhi begins sealing 'unauthorised' establishments in Hauz Khas village, Saidulajab

New Delhi: Amid heavy security deployment, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Friday began sealing unauthorised establishments in various South Delhi commercial hubs, officials said on Friday.

The action was initiated against commercial establishments found operating in violation of building bye-laws and licence conditions, they said.

According to officials, at least ten such establishments, including several restaurants, will be sealed in Saidulajab area, Hauz Khas Village, and nearby areas in South Delhi.


"Two buildings have already been sealed in the Hauz Khas Village, six buildings have been identified in Saidulajab and will be sealed today, and few other buildings will be sealed in nearby areas," a senior MCD official said.

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"Identified unauthorised establishments near Hauz Rani area, where the fire incident took place, will be sealed soon, and we are waiting for their bed-and-breakfast licences to be revoked," he added.

According to officials, at least four MCD teams comprising multiple junior and assistant engineers have been deployed for the sealing exercise.

The move comes days after a deadly fire at a bed-and-breakfast facility in Malviya Nagar area claimed 21 lives, exposing large-scale violations such as operating beyond permitted capacity and absence of a sanctioned building plan, officials said.

On Thursday, the Delhi government constituted district-level and subdivision-level committees to inspect and initiate sealing action against establishments operating in violation of fire safety norms and building bye-laws.

According to the order, district-level committees -- comprising district magistrate as chairperson, deputy commissioner (MCD), deputy commissioner of police, and the divisional fire officer -- will coordinate a city-wide survey of illegal and unauthorised buildings and establishments violating fire safety norms and building byelaws.

According to the order, they will undertake inspections and sealing actions, prioritising buildings (G+5 and above and/or with basements) with commercial establishments -- such as bed and breakfast places, hotels, restaurants, banquet halls, guest houses, hospitals, nursing homes, etc -- and not having fire safety certificates.

Read more: Saket building collapse: Delhi LG directs MCD to enforce bylaws, curb illegal structures

The district magistrate, if required, may also invoke powers under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, for ensuring comprehensive action, it added.