BMC ultimatum ends today, drive against erring restaurants to go on

The BMC will continue its drive against erring hotels and restaurants after the deadline to meet all fire safety compliance ends on Tuesday. The BMC had given a fortnight’s time to all erring establishments to comply with norms and remove illegal extensions, if any.

After the Kamala Mills fire, that claimed 14 lives, the BMC took action against over 700 hotels for not following fire safety norms and undertaking illegal construction.

According to a senior civic official, they will restart the drive, and will focus on buildings that are using the basement area illegally. 

“There are many buildings that are illegally using the basement area to store inflammable items,” said the official.

Even BMC chief Ajoy Mehta confirmed that the drive is on and it will continue. “The drive against erring hotels will  be continued,” said Mehta.

From December 30 to January 1, the BMC had inspected over 1,000 hotels and restaurants and around 700 of them faced action. 

After inspection, the BMC had also directed all commercial establishments in the city to set up gas leakage detectors on their premises to prevent fires.

On the last day of the massive three-day drive, the BMC zeroed in on G South, N and E wards and a total of 53 hotels and restaurants faced action.

In G South ward, the BMC carried out demolition in 15 places, including WellSpun in Kamala Mills in Lowe Parel. Other establishments that faced action were Ideal Industry, Sheesha Sky Lounge and Cariose hotel in G South ward in Lower Parel area. A total of 41 hotels and restaurants were inspected in the ward.

Interestingly, of the total number of hotels and restaurants inspected by the BMC, the Mumbai Fire Brigade found that around 90 percent hotels were not meeting all fire safety compliance. 

Many hotels were found to be possessing extra LPG cylinders than permissible.