GHMC moots e-challan to penalise erring hotels

The civic body is developing mobile app for this, the ‘first of its kind’ in India.

HYDERABAD: On the lines of the traffic police department, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has decided to introduce e-challan system for penalising hoteliers and restaurateurs who do not adhere to rules and regulations.The GHMC has developed a mobile app and related software and hardware, and is framing guidelines for implementation, possibly within a week. E-challans will be issued as prescribed under Sections 596 and 562 of GHMC Act.  

  The corporation has decided to adopt the e-challan system for fining violators during the inspection of hotels and restaurants through mobile app by an officer not below the rank of assistant medical officer of health (AMOH) with the penalty amount for the violations as per Schedule U of the GHMC Act and other related provisions under relevant Acts.

Training will be provided to the AMOHs on the issuance of e-challans, etc. 
The GHMC Standing Committee, which met  under the chairmanship of mayor Bonthu Rammohan on Thursday, approved the proposal for developing the new mobile app which is said to first time to be introduced by a municipal corporation in the country.   A few days ago, GHMC Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy had asked officials to frame guidelines on levy of fines on violators through e-challan in a transparent manner as being adopted by the traffic police in the twin cities.   

On levy of penalty, the GHMC took the opinion of the standing counsel P Keshav Rao  last month. According to him, Section 596 of GHMC Act contemplates that whoever contravenes any provision of sections, sub-section or clauses mentioned in the schedule or fails to comply with any requisition lawfully made upon him under any of the said sections should be punished for each such offence with fines mentioned in the rules.Keeping public health in mind, the GHMC proposed to e-challan violators during inspection of eating establishments by AMOHs through the mobile app.

Fines to be levied S1,000: 
For not providing wholesome drinking water
S520: For lack of trade licence or not  displaying it
S1,000: For improper disposal of waste/segregation
S5,000: For improper maintenance of toilets
S2,000: For not providing toilets
S5,000: For improper maintenance of drain system
S10,000: If drains do not to pass beneath the building
S10,000: for lack of fire exits, fire sprinklers and fire extinguishers
S10,000: If clay oven (batti) is located on the first and upper floors
S10,000: For using plastic carry bags of less than 50 micron density