PMC administration is under fire again

PUNE, Sept 23: Corporators cutting across parties affiliations today demanded stern action under section 376 A of Bombay Provincial Mun...

PUNE, Sept 23: Corporators cutting across parties affiliations today demanded stern action under section 376 A of Bombay Provincial Municipal Act BPMC against those hotels which have been found violating all the legal provisions to run business.

The issue was raised by Vijay Kale of the BJP and Shantilal Suratwala of the NCP, who sought to know the action taken by the civic administration against hotel Shalimar on Tilak Road, which has been running business without obtaining neither health licence nor completion certificate.

Answering queries from the members, city engineer Madhav Harihar admitted that a hotel was being run at 1475, Sadashiv Peth opposite S P College and he had received several complaints from the local residents. Harihar said the PMC had registered a complaint against the hotel owner under section 52 of Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act MRTP for misuse of the place. He stated that the PMC had submitted a few documents following request by the police department and their report was awaited.

Harihar pleaded his helplessness saying that he was unable to do anything without registering complaint with the police. He said the hotel was being run at the first floor which also was not permissible.

Chief medical officer Dr Anil Rawetkar said the health department had refused licence to the hotel when building permission department informed them that several rules had been violated while constructing the building. Dr Rawetkar said the PMC had disconnected water supply when it was found that the hotel was being run even after sending notices.

The clarification by Harihar and Dr Rawetkar could not satisfy the members, who demanded that the health department should collect samples of food and water from the hotel to confirm whether it was hazardous to the health. Kale also criticised the building permission department and sanitary inspectors of the area and asked why they did not take action before the hotel was started. Kale alleged that hotel was causing great nuisance to the entire area and the owners were even threatening the residents, who had registered complaints with police and the PMC.

Ujwal Keskar of the BJP drew attention of the administration to the section 376 A of the BPMC Act, which empowers the municipal commissioner to seal any property causing nuisance and pollution. Keskar8217;s demand for application of the said section was supported by the other corporators. Deputy Mayor Mahadeo Babar, who was conducting the meeting, asked the administration to take action against the erring hotel.