Illegal eateries face closure in east Delhi

More than 2,000 dhabas and restaurants may shut down in east Delhi as the municipal corporation has decided to take stringent action against units that are operating without health licences. HT reports.

More than 2,000 dhabas and restaurants may shut down in east Delhi as the municipal corporation has decided to take stringent action against units that are operating without health licences.

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According to rough estimates, there are 2,700 dhabas and eateries in east Delhi, out of which only 241 have licences.

The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) has ordered officials to keep a check on the eateries and to shut them if they do not apply for licences even after several reminders.

The health licences are necessary for eateries because they certify that the dhaba or the restaurant fulfils all requirements for a sanitary environment with a proper disposal system in place.

BJP councillor in EDMC, Jitender Singh Shunty, in a House meeting said that around 2,500 dhabas and restaurants are operating without health licences from the corporation, posing serious health risks.

"Apart from eateries, sugarcane juice and soda shops in the colonies run without mandatory licences," Shunty added.

The councillors have further demanded that the corporation should also keep a tab on bigger eateries that operate without following any health regulations. "The corporation should take note of all unlicensed units instead of just harassing the smaller ones which are run by poor people," said a councillor participating in the discussions.

According to officials of EDMC, unlicensed dhabas and restaurants are not limited to east Delhi alone and over-run the entire city.