21 ‘polluting’ restaurants sealed in south Delhi’s popular Hauz Khas village | Latest News Delhi - Hindustan Times
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21 ‘polluting’ restaurants sealed in south Delhi’s popular Hauz Khas village

Hindustan Times | ByHT Correspondent, New Delhi
Sep 23, 2017 08:48 PM IST

The establishments, mostly takeaway joints according to the sub-divisional magistrate, didn’t have the required permissions that ensured their operations did not pollute air and water in the area.

Around 21 restaurants were sealed in south Delhi’s Hauz Khas village on Saturday for not having proper environmental clearances to operate.

Officials said the permissions were mandatory for ensuring no water and air pollution. However, the 21 sealed establishments, most of which are takeaway joints according to the sub-divisional magistrate, didn’t have the required permission.(Arun Sharma/HT File Photo)
Officials said the permissions were mandatory for ensuring no water and air pollution. However, the 21 sealed establishments, most of which are takeaway joints according to the sub-divisional magistrate, didn’t have the required permission.(Arun Sharma/HT File Photo)

The sub-divisional magistrate of Hauz Khas, Ramchandra M Shingare, who conducted the sealing operation along with Delhi Pollution Control Committee and Delhi Police officials, said the establishments were served closure notices about four months ago.

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“Most of these don’t have consent to establish (CTE) or consent to operate (CTO) certificates, which are mandatory to run hotels in Delhi. Consent to establish is the first step for any industry or trade to begin operations and the permission is given within four months of it being applied for. The CTO certificate is given by the DPCC. You need these to run an establishment along with clearances from the police, fire and corporation health departments,” Shingare told Hindustan Times.

The permission, officials said, is mandatory for ensuring that there was no water and air pollution. However, the 21 sealed establishments, most of which are takeaway joints according to the sub-divisional magistrate, didn’t have it.

The sealing action has been conducted under section 33A of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and section 31A of Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, within 15 days.

Owners, however, said they were not given any notice.

Raj Kumar Dhingra, member of Hauz Khas Village traders association said out of 12 restaurants running in his building, six were closed in the absence of no objection certificate received from Delhi Pollution Committee and from the joint commissioner, Delhi Police.

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“However, all these restaurant owners had applied for licences from DPCC and Delhi Police a long time back and their applications were put on hold unnecessarily. No prior notices were served by government authorities to any of the restaurant owner before taking this action. We condemned the move,” he said.

Earlier this month, Delhi high court had termed the Hauz Khas Village as “a ticking time bomb” and observed that neither the government agencies nor the restaurant owners of the area have responded to its queries on safety and other issues.

A bench headed by acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal warned the associations of restaurants owners that they will not be allowed escape civil and criminal liability in case any unfortunate incident took place, as there was virtually no space for emergency vehicles to enter the area.

“The reports of Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, SDMC and the Delhi Jal Board illustrate that the Hauz Khas Village is a ticking time bomb without essential civic and emergency services…Our repeated queries regarding quantum of solid waste (garbage) and sewage generated by these restaurants (pubs,bars and cafes in Hauz Khas Village) evoked no response from either the authorities or the restaurant owners,” the court observed.

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