Existence of several illegal hostels in residential areas is vulnerable for untoward incidents in different posh areas of the city. A large number of boy and girl students and strangers lived at private hostels but the district authorities have no record of private hostels or occupants to maintain law and order arrangements.

 

 

Disappointing is the fact that the operation of private hostel at residential buildings is illegal as per the norms of Municipal Corporation but the corporation is yet to come–up for listing of illegal hostels. On the other hand, police always keep eye on strangers stayed at private hotels and lodges but never sought information about existence of strangers at private hostels.

 

Jabalpur Municipal Corporation, Commissioner, Ashish Kumar, while talking to ‘The Hitavada’, informed that revenue officers of Municipal Corporation conducted inspection of residential areas and impose commercial tax on commercial use of property in residential areas. The corporation has no specific record of private hostels but in case of finding any complaint, they will definitely take action and impose commercial tax on building owner. Usually, JMC took action on complaints received from the Police Department.

 

Superintendent of Police, Amit Singh (IPS) informed that police always obtained record of hotels, lodges and hostels from Municipal Corporation to keep vigilant eye on unwanted elements in the city. Police are unaware with undeclared hostels in the city and it is the responsibility of municipal authorities to prepare and provide record of private hostels to ensure monitoring in such areas.

 

Surprising is the fact that a large number of building owners are operating private hostels for providing accommodation to college boys and girls and working people in posh residential areas. Along with the students and working people, existence of strangers at these private hostels is vulnerable for security arrangements. In case of any kind of security alert, police always checked records of hotels and restaurants but these illegal hostels become

safe hideouts for unwanted elements. There is a need of collaborative efforts on the part of Jabalpur Municipal Corporation and Police Department for listing of private hostels and identification of occupants to ensure security arrangements and avoiding any untoward incident.