Delhi govt to scrap B&B scheme after Malviya Nagar fire: ‘All establishments to be checked’

DElhi touristry authorities minister Kapil Mishra on th said that the tell government has decided to scrap its Bed and Breakfast (B&B) policy and conduct a review of all establishments operating under the scheme in the aftermath of the devastating fire at the Flourish Stay property in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar that killed 21 people.Mishra said the government would formally withdraw the scheme and take action against operators violating licence conditions."We are going to officially withdraw the Bed and Breakfast scheme, and all establishments licensed under it will be checked," Mishra said, according to a PTI report."Action would be taken against operators found violating the terms of the licence. If any establishment registered under the scheme is found running more than six rooms, its licence will be cancelled," the minister was quoted as saying.Also Read | Delhi B&B fire: Police look for manager of Flourish Stay after owner’s arrestWhat happened in Malviya Nagar?The decision follows Wednesday's blaze at Flourish B&B which claimed the lives of 21 people, including 11 foreign nationals, and left several others injured.According to Mishra, the property had been granted a licence under the B&B scheme in 2024 in the Silver category for six rooms, with the permit valid till 2027.Investigators, however, alleged that the establishment was operating far beyond the permitted capacity and lacked the mandatory fire safety clearance. Police sources said the property had around 25 rooms, including some located in the basement.Explaining the tourism department's role, Mishra said it was largely confined to issuing and renewing licences and carrying out compliance checks during inspections."The owners are required to submit guest records to the local police station every 15 days. The tourism department does not have a role in the day-to-day functioning of these establishments," he said.Also Read | Why were victims trapped inside after big fire in Delhi? 5 big revelationsMove comes after proposed overhaulThe move to withdraw the policy comes even as the department had recently proposed an overhaul of the existing framework.Last month, it released a draft policy suggesting major changes to the scheme. The proposal introduced Gold and Silver categories, with classification based on room size, furnishings, sanitation standards, guest amenities and safety arrangements, according to a senior official.As of 2023, more than 2,200 rooms spread across 432 properties in the national capital were registered under the Delhi government's B&B scheme.Fatal incidents in past month: Urban planning expertUrban planning expert Jagdish Mamgain said a string of fatal incidents in recent months had highlighted concerns over enforcement and regulatory oversight."In the last one to one-and-a-half years, Delhi has witnessed several deaths due to fire incidents and building collapses. The latest fire tragedy and the building collapse in Saidulajab point to a larger systemic issue that needs attention," he said.Mamgain, a former chairman of the works committee of the erstwhile unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi, said the recurring incidents pointed to shortcomings in monitoring and enforcement mechanisms."There appears to be a flaw in the system that is directly affecting public safety. The discussion should not be limited to whether the establishment had permission for six rooms or more," he said."The more important question is how it continued to operate with a valid licence when commercial activities were allegedly being carried out from the basement, which is a violation of norms," he added.