New Delhi: Authorities in the national capital have begun inspections to act against hotels that violate fire safety regulations and building bylaws, hoteliers said, after a fire at a bed and breakfast (B&B) property in Hauz Rani claimed 21 lives.“We are told a hotel in Greater Kailash has been sealed. Reports of action in Green Park and Malviya Nagar area have also been received,” said a hotelier familiar with the matter.Also Read: Delhi Police arrests hotel cook in Malviya Nagar fire case that claimed 21 livesAs per a June 4 order of the home department of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, district-level committees will undertake inspections and sealing actions in a “systematic manner” and prioritise buildings having commercial activities such as bed and breakfast places, hotels, restaurants, banquet halls, guest houses, hospitals and nursing homes.The committees will comprise the respective district magistrate, deputy commissioners of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and police, and the divisional officer (fire).Delhi Hotel Association general secretary Mohit Shah said all his members have the required licences in place and he has not heard of any incidents wherein properties had been sealed.“Having the required licences from all the authorities is a prerequisite for joining our association, which also includes guesthouses,” said Shah.“We are already used to periodic checks from multiple agencies such as the MCD and the fire department and we have told our members not to panic and just furnish their licences. I think online travel agencies also need to be more responsible when it comes to onboarding hotels and B&Bs that have no proper licences. Not everything can be done by government agencies,” he said.As per reports, the Delhi Police had filed an FIR previously against the owner of the Hauz Rani B&B for violating regulations and the absence of safety measures like metal detectors and CCTV cameras in the establishment.Also Read: Delhi Malviya Nagar restaurant fire: Over 20 dead, several rescued from basementLicensed hotels should be guided towards better compliance rather than only focusing on fault finding, said Simran Sial, a member of the South Delhi Hotel Association.“At the same time, hotels, B&Bs and alternative accommodations operating without approvals or basic compliances should face strict action. Safety standards improve only when enforcement is balanced and fair,” he added.Garish Oberoi, treasurer of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India, said as the inspections go on, more cases could come to light.“Hotels not having required licences certainly need to be shut down if the delay is from the owners’ side. But at times, the fire department does not have adequate staff and delays could happen from either side,” said Oberoi.“A hotel not having a fire licence could also mean the renewal process is stuck. There are issues which the association is taking up,” he said. “We had discussed setting up third-party audit for hotels with the Delhi government to ensure timely renewals.”