With just a day to go for New Year celebrations; the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to start inspecting restaurants, lounges and bars. The civic body will also slap notices on those who flout rules and demolish illegal structures in mill lands and commercial spaces.
The BMC has also decided to induct an officer in its fire department whose sole responsibility will be to inspect restaurants, eateries, lounge bars, pubs and other commercial spaces and issue NOCs where applicable. S/he shall also ensure that they renew these periodically. In case of fire at these places, this officer shall be held responsible.
"I had brought the matter of restaurants in Kamala Mills flouting rules to BMC's notice a few months ago," said Ravi Raja, opposition leader in BMC's Standing committee, "I even sent letters. The BMC administration, right up to the commissioner, is responsible for the death of these people."
Meanwhile, celebrations on New Year's eve shall go as planned. However, all restobars in the city will observe a two minutes of silence in solidarity.
Milling with activity
Kamala Mills has around 27 establishments, including banquet halls, that serve food and alcohol. The most recent leave-and-license deal within the premises took place on December 18. Niranjan Shetty, chairman of Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association, is worried about the backlash his business might face after Friday's incident.
"Because of these new restaurants," he said, "and the incident that took place on Thursday night, I fear that the government will crack down on all of us, including those who follow rules. All of us have board announcing that we are fire-compliant."
Riyaz Amlani, president of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), says the government should come up with new regulations to avoid recurrence of such incidents. "When there's a train accident, we don't stop all the trains; we improve our services to avoid such accidents in the future. Similarly, we will bring in new rules and regulations," he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Friends of a victim killed")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}