MCD starts desilting drains in the city, hopes to meet deadline
The civic body said it had devised a comprehensive action plan to ensure timely completion of this crucial task.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, on Thursday, issued licences to restaurants and eateries in the National Capital to run open-air dining operations in terraces and other adjacent outdoor areas.
It is important to note that out of a total of 200 licences that have been issued so far, 45 are for terrace dining, while the other 155 are for open-space dining, sources said.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena had on October 31 set up a high-power committee to ease the licensing process and requirements for restaurants and hotels. The move, officials said, would boost the hospitality sector and allow dining till late and on terraces.
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The committee submitted its report within 15 days, following which the MCD invited applications from restaurants and eateries for open-air dining.
In less than a week’s time after the MCD started receiving applications for open-air dining in terraces and attached open spaces, 200 establishments across the national capital have been granted licences, a source said.
“Taking an average of three to four days to process the applications, the MCD is granting 25-30 licences a day. It has received 250 applications till now. Of the permits granted so far, 155 are for open-space dining and the remaining 45 for terrace dining,” the source said.
Saxena held several meetings with officials of Delhi Police, local bodies and the Environment department, among others, over the last month to ensure that an enabling regimen is put in place for the hotel/restaurant/hospitality industry, said the source.
He has stressed on rationalising licensing requirements, easing prohibitive regulations and processes, ensuring a faceless and online interface between regulators and entrepreneurs to mitigate harassment and corruption and ensuring security, the source added.
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