No water supply to 9 erring restaurants

The restaurants whose water supply was stopped include Hotel Revival on Fergusson College Road and Hotel Shalimar on Tilak Road. The water supply of Hotel Kamath, Supreme Fast Food Centre, Hotel Shivsagar, Hotel Sunflower, Hotel Krishna, Hotel Atithi and Hotel Subhadra was also stopped. All these hotels are located on Jangli Maharaj Road.

Additional City Engineer (Water Supply) V G Dhadphale said a team of 10 labourers led by three overseers and two plumbers was sent to disconnect the water supply to the restaurants after he received Gaikwad’s orders along with a list of erring restaurants.

The hoteliers objected to the decision arguing that they had not been issued notices. The team was even prevented from the hoteliers from entering into the premises, Dhadphale said. The opposition by the hoteliers forced the team to cut off the water supply from the main pipe line.

Meanwhile, Ratnakar Gaikwad had a meeting with the Commissioner of Police K K Kashyap, reportedly to discuss the issue and for better coordination between the two agencies. Kashyap later told media persons that law would take its own course and nobody would be spared.

The corporation was forced to take the extreme step of disconnecting water supply of the erring hotels since they have been misusing the margin space, meant for parking of vehicle. The action on hotels on Jangli Maharaj and Fergusson College Road was first taken by Arun Bhatia in March in view of traffic conditions on both the roads. The corporation, since then has been taking sustained action against these hotels. It has even lodged police complaints against hotels under section 52 of Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act. Seven hoteliers were arrested after the police complaint.