GGN ADMN BANS HOOKAH BARS

GURUGRAM: Gurugram administration issued strict guidelines for bars and pubs on Sunday and stated categorically that strict action would be taken against defaulters.

Gurugram’s district magistrate has asked all the bars and pubs in the city to install CCTV cameras with immediate effect.

Strict warnings have also been served on those pubs and bars, which encourage underage drinking. With government agencies stating that most of the hookah bars are allowing the use of nicotine in public places, a ban has also been imposed on the hookah bars in the city. Citing the Apex court order, the agencies have also underlined that action would be taken against those bars and pubs which play loud music between 10 pm and 6 am.

“For the purpose of maintaining law and order in the city, the district magistrate has issued certain directives. We have not tried to focus on bars and pubs in the city but tried to involve each and every citizen to understand their responsibility and cooperate with agencies for making Gurugram safe and secure. With a view to earning extra money, certain pubs and bars in the city are not following the laws, the police will act tough against these pubs and bars,” said a senior police official from Gurugram Police.

“We have asked the bars and pubs to install CCTV cameras so that we can have better tracking procedures. The bar owners often complain of the government agencies harassing them. We have now provided them an opportunity to be transparent and comply with the laws and regulations,” added the senior official.

The rules and regulations set for pubs and bars in the city come at a time when there is uncertainty over the functioning of more than 100 pubs and bars in Cyber hub.

According to Apex Court order that all the pubs and bars situated within 500 metres from the National Highways should be closed from April 1.

The pubs and bars of Cyber hub which is situated along NH-8 have decided to take a legal recourse on this order.