NDMC plans to set up new licensing division

In the wake of ongoing sealing drive in the city, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), catering to Lutyens' Delhi, plans to set up a new licensing division to review the licenses of restaurants and cafes found to be violating building and safety norms in commercial hubs such as Connaught Place and Khan Market. The civic body had earlier this month suspended a top officer for alleged "irregularities" in issuing licenses to these establishments.

According to the sources, an inspection of all the establishments in Connaught Place is being undertaken by the civic body's architecture department to check for violations.

"We are mulling over constituting a new licensing division, which will have all the heads of departments, including health and architecture among others, which will cater only to issuing and renewal of licenses. A number of violations were found recently where original shop-owners have sub-let their units for businesses such as running a restaurant, which is against the norms,"said a senior officer.

The sealing drive in the Capital is being conducted on the directions of the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee to check the"misuse" of residential premises as commercial and "unauthourised constructions".

"We have been told by the Committee to conduct a survey and submit a report so that action can be taken against these establishments. We have been doing a door-to-door survey and will be submitting a report soon,"said a senior officer.

The civic body had recently issued notices to nine restaurants and resto-bars for not having fire safety NOC from the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), which is a threat to the large crowds that gather in the area.

While six of these establishments have complied with the directions, three are yet to obtain the fire NOC, the officer added.

The NDMC had sealed 21 rooftop bars and restaurants in CP last February after two incidents of roof collapse occurred within ten days.