BBMP

excise commissioner

Residents of Indiranagar now fear that the serene atmosphere in their neighbourhood will fall prey to further commercialization with more pubs coming up in the area. Around 40 residents held a protest in Indiranagar 1st stage on Sunday against two existing pubs and one proposed pub.Despite numerous letters toand elected representatives, there was no concrete response. Fed up, the residents chose to take to the streets.A 70-year-old person named Britto, who is a retired school teacher and has a son with health issues, has been feeling harassed for five years. Britto was never asked for permission as to whether the pub could come up near their house. Though in a commercial access road, this too is within 100 meters of temples, and with Amarjyoti Nursing home located directly behind! Does the excise commissioner or his staff ever visit the site they are issuing licenses to, they ask.However, all the residents asked the restaurant manager to turn down the music and stop the noise after 11 pm. Moreover, opening of pub/bar, sale and service of liquor at this place is a violation of rules. “No license for sale of liquor shall be granted to a liquor shop or premises within a distance of 100 meters from any religious or educational institution. There is a school and temple within 100 meter but still they are running the pub in two places. We don’t want the place to turn into a commercial area, creating nuisance and hardship for all of us, says Jagruty S, a resident.BBMP officials promised the aggrieved residents that they would not issue trade licenses for any pub or restaurant in the area in future.