Residents take on watering holes of SDA
NEW DELHI: Alarmed by the increasing nuisance due to bars, lounges and cafes in the neighbourhood market, residents of Safdarjung Development Area (SDA) have petitioned the civic agencies to act in time. They allege that liquor shops, bars and lounges have been issued licences without proper verification and they don’t adhere to the norms of the excise department. The residents have already written to the commissioner, excise entertainment and luxury tax, Delhi government, commissioner, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and met Ishwar Singh, deputy commissioner of police (south).
As per the Delhi Excise rules, 2010, no retail vend should be located within 100 metres of major educational institutes, hospitals with over 50 beds and religious places. However, according to residents, lounges and bars are opening at a distance less than 100 metres from the main entrance of IIT and a private hospital located adjacent to the market.
“In reply to our letter regarding the unacceptable distance of a lounge and bar from IIT entrance gate, the excise department informed that the distance is 114 metres (more than the permissible limit). But we are not satisfied by their method of calculation and we want to take up the matter with senior officials. We have also received information about the opening of three more lounge and bars in the market,” said Purnam Kar, member of SDA RWA and resident of C-5 block.
Residents are also unhappy PAWAN JAIN, chief patron, SDA RWA with the location of the liquor shop which was opened five years back and belongs to DSIIDC. “Soon after the opening of the shop residents approached the authorities and got it closed. However, it reopened here. But this time we will not let the authorities take the matter Safdarjung Development Area market lightly,” said Kar.
The mushrooming of pubs has disturbed the peace as revellers throng the area in large numbers, said residents. “We are not against the development of the local market. I n fact, in the last few years some nice cafes and restaurants have opened up in the market and residents love to go to these places with their families and friends. But the situation is going out of control now,” said Pawan Jain, chief patron, SDA RWA.
Residents are worried that the place will turn into a commercial hub like Hauz Khas village if no timely action is ASHOK MEHTA, general secretary of SDA RWA taken. “The frequency with which these bars and lounges are opening in the market, it has become a serious concern. It will add to our woes. We are already suffering due to the nuisance created in Hauz Khas village. Cafes and bars operate here till late night and drunkards often enter the colony, honk unnecessarily and play loud music. It’s disturbing the environment of our colony,” said Ashok Mehta, general secretary of SDA federation.
Visitors coming to the place park their cars haphazardly in and around the market and the colony. “Recently, a drunk man entered the colony around 2am and broke windows of a house. Residents had to call the police to control the situation,” said a resident.
A senior SDMC official said, “Taking action against people for not adhering the licensing norms doesn’t come under our jurisdiction. However, we can take stringent action for encroaching on public place or illegal extensions. In this case we need to check if any complaint has been received or not.”
Praveen Mishra, deputy commissioner, department of excise, entertainment and luxury tax, Delhi govt, said, “The licences are issued after ensuring that all the norms are fulfilled. Even then if there is any complaint against bars and lounges in the market, we will visit the site and take action.”
We are not against development. In fact, in the last few years some nice cafes and restaurants have come up here and we love to go to these places. But the situation is going out of control now. We are already suffering due to the nuisance created in Hauz Khas village. Cafes and bars operate here till late and drunkards enter the colony, honk unnecessarily and play loud music.