BMC rapped over cooking on roadside

Mumbai: The Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR) has petitioned the Bombay high court, alleging that despite various directions by the court on restricting roadside cooking, the BMC has not been implementing the directions diligently as a result of which the evicted hawkers return the very next day. The BMC, however, refuted the allegations and submitted data of action taken. However, the court said that it was not satisfied with the report and directed the civic body to file an affidavit in this regard in two weeks.

A division bench was hearing the grievances by the AHAR which submitted pictorial evidences of roadside cooking going on across the city using gas cylinders thus putting the lives of pedestrians as well as patrons in danger. The petitioners further informed that the court’s directions were being violated as the cylinders seized during raids were returned to the owners rather than depositing them with the cylinder providers, as directed by the court.

The BMC counsel, however, refuted the allegations and said that action against roadside cooking was an ongoing process and there were no lapses on its part.