Hyderabad: Over 70 per cent hotels under the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) that are running without a licence face the prospect of being sealed. The reason is not the licence fee but the mandatory building and sanitation rules of the Secunderabad Cantonment Act of 2006. The Act has separate sections on building and sanitation rules. For instance, no establishment should encroach the road. Every eatery must have parking space and follow fire safety norms, which most of the eateries do not do.
SCB food safety officer Devender said, “There are 430 restaurants and the remaining are tiffin centres, lodges, messes, canteens and street vendors according to records. During a recent check, it was noticed that over 70 per cent of the eateries do not have trade licence.” He said the fee ranged from Rs 500 to Rs 50,000 based on the commercial establishment. “The applicant must submit the building sanction plan by SCB, pay tax and have the rental agreement, if any. Unless these documents are provided with the application for the trade licence, it will not be approved,” he added.
Most of the owners do not have the mandatory documents and do not apply for trade licence. As per Section 278 of the Cantonment Act, 2006, every kitchen must follow norms like proper ventilation, a shelter for workers and pest control. Most of them do not follow these norms too”. Hotel managements complain that SCB takes its own time to release trade licence. “If the building has deviations, the entire structure is counted as illegal and permission is refused.”, said a businessman.
12 illegal outlets sealed:
The Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) on Tuesday sealed 12 top commercial outlets, including Maruti Suzuki Motors, Brindhavan Motors and Navta Road Transport, for operating without trade licence. All the establishments that were seized fall under the SCB's Balamrai ward. They were “illegally operating business by blatantly violating the rules of the Canton-ment Act, 2006. Section 277 (1) of the Act states that no person of any of the classes, vendors of any articles shall carry on trade unless he has obtained a lice-nce.” chief executive Sujatha Gupta said.
She said show-cause notices had been issued to all 12 commercial establishments asking why action should not be initiated against them. “The defaulters have not made any representation and have failed to show sufficient reasons for running business without licence,” she said. She said the establishments had been sealed under Section 278 of the Cantonment Act 2006.
No room for violation of rules:
The Secunderabad Cantonment Board, unlike the GHMC, is acting tough on unauthorised constructions. SCB Chief Executive Officer Sujatha Gupta said the most credible source was the general public, apart from their own engineering staff, to report on illegal construction. Speaking to this newspaper, Ms Gupta said, “There can’t be development without discipline. The major role of an urban local body is enforcement of regulation along with administration. Law breakers must be brought to book. If not, it becomes unfair on residents who follow norms. If we allow the law breaker to escape, the honest will lose faith in the administration. The system is such that over 80 per cent of the rules are still unknown to many. Regulation is the hallmark of every municipality.’’
The CEO said, “The SCB will be tough on encroachments, deviations, illegal constructions whether commercial or residential. The number of unauthorised constructions has come down in SCB due to enforcement. No time is given for the party to approach the court.” The board has created a social media platform where society watchers can report or complain about the irregularities they come across. The staff verifies it and in case of violation, action is taken.
