73 of them have been served notices to shut down for alleged violation of zonal norms; traders claim that they are being targeted

The impasse over commercial establishments being asked to shut down by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in Indiranagar for alleged violation of zonal norms continued on Thursday, with residents’ welfare association members refusing to participate in a “meeting” convened by MLA for C.V. Raman Nagar S. Raghu.

Mr. Raghu has been accused of intervening when the civic body closed 13 commercial establishments at HAL 2nd Stage last week and having them reopened. After residents objected to this, he called for a consultation meeting between residents and traders on Thursday.

On Tuesday, 73 establishments in Indiranagar 1st and 2nd Stages were served notices to shut down within three days for alleged violation of zonal norms.

On Thursday, Mr. Raghu said a re-inspection of all establishments would resolve the issue. “The issue will be solved within a month when all the 73 establishments will be properly inspected. Ancillary trade establishments on roads wider than 40 ft will be exempted. However, the ones violating zonal norms will be cleared immediately,” he said.

Traders’ association maintained that they had clearance certificate from Bangalore Development Authority. “Commercial establishments in the area have been functioning for decades. It is unfair if traders have to vacate the buildings all of a sudden. There is no inconvenience caused by the establishments as most of these are grocery shops, salons, and private offices which are being targeted by officials,” said S.G. Aditya, secretary of Indiranagar Owners and Traders’ Welfare Association.

Responding to the traders’ charge that they were being targeted, ‘I Change Indiranagar’ said, “The BBMP did not implement the UDD notification. The RWAs were compelled to seek the High Court’s direction to implement the zoning regulations. The court need not tell the BBMP to implement the regulations; as an enforcement agency, the civic body has to do it and it will be in contempt if it does not.”

Loud music

Upset with pubs and restaurants for playing loud music in the night, residents of Vittal Mallya Road, D’Souza Layout, Walton Road, and Kasturba Road gave a representation to Cubbon Park police station on Thursday.

According to Shymala Nawab, resident of Vittal Malya Road, these establishments have been violation noise pollution norms by playing loud music. “The music starts late night and sometimes goes on till 1 a.m. On weekends, it is worse. No one can sleep in peace. We don’t have a problem with the establishments running here. We are raising an issue about the noise levels,” she said. The residents said Deputy Commissioner of Police Devraj had agreed to look into the issue.