Hotels fail to remove monsoon sheds despite NMMC notices

CBD BELAPUR: Several hoteliers have been seen brazenly flouting the norms in the city.

The monsoon sheds for which permissions were given for four months, continue to be in place despite the expiry of the period.

What makes the situation worse is the notices by NMMC too have not yielded any result and in fact the sheds are being used for commercial purposes.

The sheds were expected to be removed by the hoteliers themselves by September 30. However, the facility is said to be misused by a section of hoteliers and commercial establishments in the city.

Several hoteliers take permission for the monsoon sheds and then use them for the rest of the year. Several have put up tables, chairs among others under the sheds. Some have set up their kitchen and some store rooms under it.

A number of fast food, pan and other such stalls have come up here.

A restaurant in Sector 17 of Vashi is using the place for a pan stall, seating arrangement and vessel storage.

A restaurant and bar in Sector 9 has reportedly even started using the area for service alcohol.

Shishir Date, a Vashi resident, said, “The encroachment by the hoteliers is posing a security risk. The guests are being made to sit in areas which are encroached. Since sheds have been put in open spaces causing obstruction, in case of fire, the fire personnel could face problems in fighting fire.”

Dhiraj Patel, a social worker, said, “There are a number of restaurants in APMC, Turbhe area where the sheds are being misused. A hotel near the police station has an air conditioner in its legal space and the encroached space is used for the guests.”

Patel added there are similar instances in Nerul, Belapur, Kopar Khairane and other nodes of the city where marginal spaces have been covered with the sheds and used illegally.

Kailash Gaikwad, assistant municipal commissioner (encroachment), said, “The permissions for monsoon sheds had been given till September 30. Those who have constructed them should remove them immediately.”

He added, “If they do not remove the sheds themselves, we will take action against them.”