Showcause notice to Bengali Market eateries

NEW DELHI: Eateries and dry cleaners in the upmarket Bengali Market in the national capital have been served showcause notices by the New Delhi Municipal Council for allegedly not possessing health licences which is mandatory under section 327 of the NDMC Act, 1994. The municipal agency asked the shopkeepers why their premises should not be sealed within a week for not following the statutory rules.

An inspection by the area sanitary inspector revealed that many of these eateries were operating without the mandatory health licence required for the operation of such business. The inspection was carried on February 10.

As per the directory of the Bengali Market traders, the self-contained market has nearly three dozen shops. Some of the medicine stores and stationery items stores have not been served any notice so far.

“I have not received any but some shopkeepers of our market received the notice from NDMC last week. They had several meetings in the last few days with NDMC officials regarding this issue,” said Mukesh Gupta, president of Bengali Market traders association, who also runs a stationery store in the market.  

The NDMC issued the showcause notice asking the shop keepers to explain why their shops should not be closed within seven days of issuance of the notice failing which their premises would be sealed in terms of section 333 of NDMC Act, without any further notice.

Majority of the shopkeepers remained tight-lipped about these notices as they were scared of losing their business, which they have been running for generations. Despite several attempts, the NDMC spokesperson refused to comment on the matter.

The market is located in the cultural hub of Delhi. NSD (National School of Drama), FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) and Kamani Auditorium goers visit this place frequently. People usually come to the famous sweetmeat shops here — Bengali Sweet House and Nathu’s Sweets.