Delhi CM Rekha Gupta has said that her government is committed to address and resolve all “legacy” issues faced by the trade and industry in the national capital territory of Delhi. She said this while addressing a felicitation meeting organised at the aegis of the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Northern India (HRANI) in Delhi today.
The requirement of police licence for hospitality business has been removed already, which she said, was a legacy bottleneck for the trade in Delhi. The CM said that she had a meeting of the fire department of Delhi early this week and a proposal for “third party audit” for fire licence is under consideration of the government, she said. She said that the applications pile up in departments as there is shortage manpower to process these applications. Third party audit would be a step in the direction of ease of doing business leading ultimately to single window clearance system for all licences, the CM said.
While her government is trying to elevate the Ease of Doing business scenario in the national capital, she demanded in return the support of the trade and industry in promoting the city as a global hub for tourism. She asked the industry to participate with a spirit of ‘Meri Dilli-Meri Jamindari’ (My Delhi, My Responsibility) to eradicate the negative image of the city.
She also spoke about the decision of her government to reduce rentals of major event venues in the city to attract events and conferences into the city, which she said directly and indirectly benefit the hospitality sector.
Considering the logistical and technical issues raised by the hotel industry in installing smog guns atop the buildings as mandated by the Government of NCT of Delhi, the CM has agreed on an alternative proposal by the hotel industry association to put more environmentally sustainable and economical “dry fog” technology.
Surender Kumar Jaiswal, president of Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI) in his welcome speech highlighted the speed at which CM Gupta takes action citing the removal of police licences for hospitality industry in the capital city on the industry’s request. Welcoming the relief that the government extended in the matter of installation of smog guns atop hotels, Jaiswal said that the industry will install dry-fog system which is more economical, sustainable and effective.
