Provide alternatives before closing down PGs: Inmates

09 January, 2013

After getting the green signal from the administration, HUDA is all set to close down city's PGs and guest houses. While the move has come as a big relief for people like Raman Sharma, who is the president of Gurgaon Progressive Forum, the inmates and owners of various PGs in the city have been left stunned.

Expressing his happiness over the decision, Raman Sharma told this citizen journalist that PGs and guest houses have become a hub of crime and criminal activities in the city. "20% of houses in Gurgaon are running PGs and guest houses where prostitution and crimes are happening. Owners keep these people just for some money and that too without any verification. This is something of much concern for the city and its people," alleged Sharma.

He also added that these PGs are also putting extra burden on the city's resources. "These people who are living here illegitimately are consuming local resources like water, power, electricity etc. and that too on subsidized rates," Sharma said.

He informed that because of over population, fights take place on a daily basis in these PGs. “The space for parking is a big issue in these areas because they are originally made for specific number of cars and vehicles but because of emergence of extra people and their vehicles people are indulging in fights, which sometimes lead to big crimes,” he added.

But the decision has met with strong opposition and criticism from people working or staying in PGs or guest houses in the city. Since the city is an IT and education hub, large number of people, mostly students stay in these PGs.

"It is ridiculous. How can HUDA think about such a plan? HUDA needs to first think about those people who stay in these accommodations,” Ashim Sunam, who works in Gurgaon reacted angrily.

After hearing about the move, people staying in these accommodations have expressed their concerns. “Being a PG dweller, I am not for this decision as one can’t imagine why (are they taking such a decision). They cannot close down PG's and if they are doing it then they should provide an alternative to us," said Shrabani Mukherjee.

Even PG owners have shown their helplessness to this decision. "It will bring no difference to the crimes and resource allocations. It will only make many people unemployed. All people in these PGs are not criminals and not everywhere business of prostitution is going on," Joginder, who runs a PG in Palam Vihar said.

Countering Sharma’s views that city’s resources are being used, Joginder said that people staying in these PGs will anyway not leave the city. “They will not leave their jobs but will only shift to some other accommodations and continue to use the resources of the city,” Joginder said.

Even though he is clearly against PGs and guest houses, Sharma wants government to work on alternative accommodations before closing them down. “Government should assign particular location and areas which should be allotted for PGs for these students and working people, but only after proper verification,” Sharma said.

Right now about 36 townships of all HUDA sectors have been selected for inspection where district administration warned the guest house owners to either shut down such accommodations or face sealing.