Khan Market restaurants ordered to put in grease chambers

“We will issue show-cause notices for sealing if the restaurants either don’t have grease chambers or the one installed is dysfunctional,within one month. The sewerage at the Defense Colony market is much better after many restaurants installed effluent treatment plants (ETPs),” NDMC secretary Vikas Anand said.

The Defence Colony market,which faced a continual problem of choked drains,has found itself at ease since restaurant owners in the market put effluent treatment plants and grease chambers on their drainage outlets.

Officials said most houses in Khan Market have been converted into shops,cafes,restaurants and boutiques. This means additional load on infrastructure that was designed to cater to residential units.

In Khan Market,all utility services are in the middle circle,which is already too clustered.

Large-scale conversion,combined with massive increase in footfall over the years,has put a tremendous load on infrastructure,officials said.

“The sewerage in the area,which was created for residences,is used by more restaurants and their grease outflow is huge,putting tremendous pressure on the system. The conditions are chaotic and sewers are choked,” a senior official said.

Installation of grease chambers prevents discharge of fats,oils and grease from clogging the sewer lines by trapping and separating them from the main system outlet.

Apart from more than 150 shops,there are 74 flats on the top floors of the market,which have now been converted into food joints and other outlets.