Check the inn before checking in!

Home secretary Ashok Nath told The Indian Express,8220;We took an unusually long time to complete the survey as we found that about 50 per cent of the 3,000-odd hotels and guest houses in the Capital are illegal. They do not have the requisite clearance necessary to set up a hotel.8221;

8220;In co-ordination with various agencies like the DP, MCD, DDA and DFS, we have prepared a list of the erring ones and will submit it to the Licensing Department of the Delhi Police soon,8221; he said. The list comprises many well-known inns and hotels in South Delhi whichare located in residential colonies. People living in the colonies, especially those in South Extension, Sunder Nagar and Defence Colony have registered several complaints with the local police protesting against the disturbance caused by these guest houses. These complaints prompted the police to probe whether the guest houses had the required clearance.

8220;Residents complained against the presence of strange and suspicious characters in the neighbourhood who visit these guest houses. Some even complained of the noise produced by too many cars moving around in the locality,8221; disclosed a senior south district police officer. The committee has identified the defaulting inns that have not obtained clearances from the civic agencies. The list also includes several small guest houses in Paharganj and Karol Bagh. There are about 2,000 odd guest houses located in this zone which are favourite haunts of budget tourists.

Any small-time businessman who gets down at theCapital8217;s railway station finds it very convenient to walk into these economical guest houses.

8220;It is these seedy guest houses, however, that are the centre of crime and other nefarious activities,8221; says DCP Licensing Shankar Dash. 8220;Both foreign and domestic tourists live here. These guest houses are also the centres of drug trade and prostitution. We have identified the seediest ones and will come down heavily upon them.8221;

However, sources in the Delhi Police say that the survey may yield no result as many of the erring guest houses belong to influential people.

8220;The fact that these guest houses and hotels are illegal is an open secret. Everyone knows the owners have not obtained the requisite clearances but no one does anything about them as they have the required contacts. An officer from the Licensing Department can do nothing if a high level official stops him,8221; says a policeman with the Licensing Department.