Girls Rise For Mohali Begins Campaign Against Illegal PGs

Girls Rise For Mohali Begins Campaign Against Illegal PGs

Unregistered PGs running in Mohali: Opinder Preet Kaur

Nabaz-e-Punjab Bureau
Girls Rise Mohali (GRM), a community based social action group has started a campaign against illegal paying guest accommodations in Mohali, in response to an accident fire in a PG in Mohali resulting in a ghastly tragedy causing death of 3 girl students. Opinder Preet Kaur, founder of GRM and also Municipal Councillor from Phase XI, leading the moment said, “Mohali is a hub for education and every year thousands of children from neighbouring states come to Mohali and live in vulnerable conditions in the unsafe PGs. It is seen that to evade commercial taxes levied on commercial use of property, the owners of houses donot get their PGs registered. PGs have become a flourishing business in Mohali, where students live in overcrowded PGs despite paying hefty rent. Our campaign, #MOHALIFREEFROMILLEGALPGS, focusses on searching for unregistered PGs across Mohali, maintaining their list, informing and helping authorities in tracking the illegal PGs.” She further urged everyone to get their PGs registered and also participate in the campaign and complain about the illegal PGs.

Despite a notice issued by Great Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) last year mandating landlords to register their businesses within one month of the notice, not many have registered their PGs in Mohali. Majority PGs running in Phase 3, 5, 7, 11, Sohana and Kumbra are not only unregistered but overcrowded too, which further adds pressure on municipal resources like supply of water and sanitation facilities. These unregistered houses also are acting as shelter houses of anti-social elements as police verification is avoided by PG owners and administration has no record of persons living in paying guest accommodations. Vehicles are parked on roads and are often reason of quarrel in neighbourhood. Despite the deplorable and pathetic living, health and hygiene conditions students are paying heavy amount to stay in these PGs. Raids are being conducted by the administration to track these illegal PGs. Task forces have been formed to look for unregistered PGs. Many PGs owners in the Mohali have also shut down their paying guest accommodation.