LDA to take action against illegal eating joints in Gomti Nagar

LUCKNOW: After six people were killed in an inferno in two Charbagh hotels recently, the Lucknow Development Authority has geared up to take action against illegal restaurants running from residential places in Gomti Nagar. Such eateries not only violate building norms but also lack adequate fire safety measures.

To note, post the Charbagh incident, fire safety measures in hotels, restaurants and commercial buildings are under the scanner. Though restaurants are run from residential places all over the city, the problem is grave in Gomti Nagar. In this part of the city, restaurants, cafes and food joints are being run in gross violation of all laws, despite the fact that commercial activity from residential places is prohibited.

After an initial screening drive, the development authority has identified around 150 such illegal restaurants and cafes in Gomti Nagar area that are located in residential places and also lack standard fire safety measures. “All restaurants, hotels, food joints and cafes must comply with fire safety norms,” said an LDA official . “So action against these restaurants can be taken on two counts; doing commercial activity from residential places and not fulfilling standard fire safety norms,” he added.

Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, LDA officer, is spearheading this drive.

Such illegal commercial establishments are not only defacing Gomti Nagar but are also adding to the traffic snarls in the area. “Almost all illegal restaurants do not have any parking place. Customers park their vehicles on the roads blocking movement,” said an LDA official.

“Identification work of illegal restaurants in Gomti Nagar is almost over. But taking action against them is a tall order when you look at the LDA’s functioning,” said an official of the development authority. “All such illegal activities cannot be carried out without the knowledge of the zonal LDA official and the junior engineer concerned. Everything is executed with full knowledge of LDA officials. So action against these illegal establishments will not be easy,” added the official.

Last year, the development authority had revoked its earlier decision of permitting change of land use from residential to commercial to 58 influential people of the city.