GURUGRAM: Opposition to the Department of Town and Country Planning’s (DTCP) proposed sealing and demolition actions against illegally operating paying guest (PG) accommodations and guesthouses grew stronger on Thursday, as several operators and residents staged a protest march and mahapanchayat in DLF-3.
DTCP is set to resume its sealing and demolition efforts starting July 1. The enforcement team has already begun distributing pamphlets instructing occupants of PGs and guesthouses to vacate by June 30. This protest occurs amidst ongoing actions against unauthorized constructions and commercial activities in residential areas of DLF phases 1 to 5, following directives from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
During the mahapanchayat, participants agreed to submit a memorandum to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh, and Industries Minister Rao Narbir Singh, advocating for a regularization policy for PGs and guesthouses in licensed colonies. They called on the government to legalize such establishments through a designated fee or penalty instead of enforcing closures.
Former DLF Residents Welfare Association (RWA) president Madan Lal Yadav remarked that if the government can regularize unauthorized colonies, a reasonable policy should also be developed for PGs and guesthouses. “Operators are willing to pay any charges set by the government. Thousands of working professionals from various states rely on these accommodations. Their abrupt closure would lead to a significant housing crisis,” he stated.
Resident Praveen Gupta challenged the department’s claim that PGs are straining civic infrastructure. “Numerous high-rise residential projects are underway in the area. It is unjust to solely blame PGs and guesthouses for issues related to infrastructure,” he emphasized.
Ishwar Yadav, another resident, highlighted the dependence of thousands of employees in Gurgaon on affordable PG accommodations and noted that the government has no alternative housing solutions. He urged that the sealing initiative be paused until a clear policy is presented.
Many residents and PG operators expressed concerns about the economic ramifications of the proposed actions, suggesting that it could negatively impact both property owners and thousands of tenants working in the city’s corporate sector. They mentioned how many homeowners have converted their properties to PGs after making considerable investments to meet the growing demand for rental spaces in Gurgaon, which has a large migrant workforce requiring affordable housing closely located to their workplaces.
Speakers at the mahapanchayat insisted that instead of demolition and sealing efforts, the government should create comprehensive guidelines covering parking, fire safety, sanitation, and occupancy standards for such establishments. They advocated for ensuring compliance with safety and civic regulations rather than outright closures.
The protesters also called upon authorities to engage with residents’ welfare associations, PG operators, and industry stakeholders before taking further steps, asserting that a balanced policy would safeguard livelihoods while addressing urban planning concerns.
