Fire Department has written to BBMP, Bescom

Two months after the Fire Department inspected roof-top pubs and restaurants and issued notices to ones which were not following fire safety norms, the department has now written to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom), directing them to withdrawal occupancy certificate and cut power supply of 30 roof-top pubs and restaurants for violating regulations.

In letters dated February 28, the Fire Department has provided a list of 30 erring roof-top establishments, including Humming Tree and B-Flat in Indiranagar, Church’s Inn on Church Street and Bottoms-up restro-bar in HRBR Layout. Of the 30 roof-top establishments, five are in Indiranagar.

According to Soumendu Mukherjee, Inspector General of Police and Additional Director General Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services (KSFES), “The 30 roof-top establishments did not respond to any of the notices served by the Fire Department. For total non-compliance and defiance of the notices, we have written to the BBMP and Bescom to take action.”

30 more given time

The department has served notices to over 30 other roof-top establishments, which have responded and have been given time to comply with the norms, he added. The fire safety audit started after a major mishap in a roof-top pub in Mumbai in December last year.

Stating that the BBMP will take immediate action against the 30 establishments, Sarfaraz Khan, Joint Commissioner, Health, BBMP, said, “We will cancel the trade licence and withdraw the OC of these establishments.”

However, citizens allege that this is an eyewash.

Aruna Netwon, member of of I Change Indiranagar, a group that has been battling rampant commercialisation of the residential area, said, “It is surprising that only five establishments have been named as non-compliant. While we are appreciative of the efforts taken by the Fire Department, we fail to understand how those establishments that have been given notices were allowed to function even before they comply.”

And even if action is taken against the establishments, they will be back in business in no time, she said.