SoBo residents support HC's point of ensuring women's safety in light of Mumbai's nightlife policy
The state government's plan to implement the Mumbai 24x7 nightlife policy has hit a roadblock after HC directed the State to ensure the safety of women. Citizens had shown concern about bars and pubs being kept open all night as they may lead to an increase in crime level. Many residents from A/ward had also met MLA Raj Purohit two weeks ago to express their displeasure.
The idea, which is the brainchild of Aditya Thackeray, was recently accepted by the State and the city's top cop. Answering to two PILs regarding concerns over the safety and most residents agree that the Court's apprehension is valid and that the State needs to come up with ways to handle women's safety. Subhash Motwani of Clean Heritage Colaba Residents' Association (CHCRA) supports the points raised by the Court. He shares, "I think the Court has made a valid point as the policy cannot be implemented without considering the safety of women. We can imagine the chaos that will ensue if there's no policing over drunk people in middle of the night." Echoing the thought is Meher Jain, a Nariman Point resident, "I feel there is a lack of law and order situation even during daytime. I shudder at the thought of what would unfold if the bars are kept open all night."
The citizens' biggest concerns are car parking and the selection of nightlife zones. If there is an influx of patrons' cars coming to the pubs, bars or restaurants, it will create chaos in the already narrow roads. Motwani adds, "It all depends on the areas that would be designated as nightlife zones to ensure ample car parking. The ideal solution would be to create the nightlife zones in business or commercial areas, which are located far from the residential zones. But even after all this is taken into account, will the security be in check?"
MLA Raj Purohit of the Colaba constituency shares, "I totally support what the HC has said as it is quite obvious that the crime rate against women is high. Even during daytime cases of rapes and other sexual offences happen and the police cannot even put a curb on that. One can imagine what would happen during night-time, especially when people are drunk. Another factor is that the police force is extremely short-staffed. Most of the time, when the BMC ward wants to demolish a structure and asks for police officers for protection, the cops end up saying they can't provide officers as there is a lack of manpower. If this is the case, how does the Mumbai police plan to look into the safety issue if the nightlife plan is rolled out?"
Note: A division bench of Justices A S Oka and A K Menon have questioned the safety issue in this matter.
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