MUMBAI: In the first such action against pubs, the BMC on Sunday filed an FIR under Sec 188 of the IPC (disobedience of order duly promulgated by a public servant) against the manager of Bombay Adda in Santacruz (W) over violation of Covid-19 norms.
Sources said the pub, which was fined Rs 30,000, had 275 patrons, most of them not wearing a mask, post-midnight.
It is worrying that an increasing number of establishments are seeing big crowds without their patrons following the mask mandate. The authorities must hold these places and even the patrons accountable. As experts have made clear, irresponsible conduct could result in an escalation in coronavirus cases and possibly a second wave as well, which all of us in the city must do our utmost to keep at bay.
The BMC collected Rs 43,000 in fines after raiding four restaurants/pubs, the others being Dadar’s Hotel Pritam, Kandivli’s Hotel Bhagwati and Malad’s Rude Lounge. Civic chief Iqbal Chahal cautioned, “Corona isn’t over yet. We’re against night curfew, but citizens shouldn’t create havoc around Christmas and New Year and force us to impose it.”
BMC cracks whip on errant bars and restaurants, raids kept secret
Year-end celebrations seem to have already taken off in the city as bars, pubs and restaurants are witnessing huge turnouts, especially late evening, which has become a cause of concern for the BMC.
The civic body has empowered its 24 ward officers under the Epidemics Act and the Disaster Management Act to take action for violation of Covid norms. Offences are filed under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code which attracts six months’ jail or Rs 1,000 fine.
The BMC has set up teams comprising officers from the building, health, fire and Covid-19 departments to conduct raids. “There are around 10 people in each team, but the raids are highly confidential. No one knows where the raid is going to be conducted. Some officials do a recce of the ward and inform if they see huge crowds,” said a civic official, requesting anonymity. “Restaurants and pubs have been allowed to operate with 50% capacity, including staff. We check registers for seating capacity, how the tables are arranged, how many people are present, and if health norms are being followed in the kitchen. The garbage is also inspected to see that masks and gloves are not thrown out along with kitchen waste. Registers are checked to see if the staff’s health updates are being recorded. This is necessary as they move from table to table,” the official added.
Civic officials said that conducting a raid is not easy. “There are arguments and we have to keep our patience and carry out the inspection. On Sunday night, after the raids at several resturants and pubs across the city, many of us reached home in the wee hours of Monday,” said a BMC official.
The BMC teams are empowered to fine patrons Rs 200 each for not wearing a mask, but with hundreds present it becomes difficult, said another official.
Sukesh Shetty, secretary of the Association of Hotels and Restaurants (AHAR), said their members have been repeatedly told to comply with the norms. “It is after nearly eight months that restaurants, pubs, night clubs and bars have opened up. Also, not all high-end restaurants have been able to resume operations. Many continue to remain shut. There is a limited window period of three hours during which business can be done…We request the government to increase the hours for business,” he said.
Sources in the hotel industry said they do not want a second lockdown, but pointed out that it is now a matter of economic survival for the industry. “An owner has to make money to pay the rent, pay salaries and then run his own household. The streets are overflowing with hawkers, the buses are crowded, why target only the hotel industry?” asked a source.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/pub-manager-booked-4-bars-fined-dont-force-our-hand-warns-bmc/articleshow/79731305.cms