Pune civic body finally takes notice of illegal commercial activities in residential areas

PUNE: It took a tragedy for the authorities to wake up from their deep slumber and take notice of the rampant illegal commercial activities in Pune’s residential areas, citizens told TOI on Saturday.

The Porsche Taycan crash in Kalyaninagar that killed two techies has exposed the glaring loopholes in the functioning of the city’s hospitality industry, particularly the conversion of residential properties into commercial establishments without proper permissions, the citizens said.

According to citizens’ group Team Swachh Kalyaninagar, there are a staggering 19 pubs, clubs and resto-bars operating within a 4km radius in the area. The issue is prevalent in Vimannagar, parts of Koregaon Park and Mundhwa too, where such conversions have become almost a norm.

For years, the area residents have been raising concerns about the nuisance caused by these establishments, starting from the loud noise to constant flow of cabs, haphazard parking and revellers creating scenes on the streets. “Yet, the municipal authorities, police and excise departments turned a blind eye to their concerns, granting permissions to these commercial operations to function in the residential spaces,” a resident said.

Another Kalyaninagar resident said the resto bar on Central Avenue, which opened about two years ago, was within 500 metres of two prominent schools, a temple, vegetable market and a maternity hospital. “I wonder how the owner received the permission to operate the establishment. How can such an establishment be allowed to operate near a school?” the resident asked.

According to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials, residential properties are often converted into food joints without obtaining the necessary permissions. Ideally, if a residential property is to be used for commercial purposes, the operators should inform PMC, while ensuring adequate parking, sanitation systems, fire-fighting equipment and fire exits. After the conversion, the property is taxed at commercial rates.

“Demolition of such properties has failed to deter their owners from carrying out illegal constructions. PMC has filed criminal complaints against some of these food joints. Now, options like revoking building permissions of such properties are being explored,” said Rohidas Gavhane, an executive engineer at PMC.

Rohan Desai, a representative of the Koregaon Park Residents’ Association, said, “The owners of commercial establishments like restobars, pubs, and clubs are hand-in-glove with PMC officials. They announce a demolition drives and only pretend to destroy temporary structures.”

A senior official from the excise department said, “FL-3 licences (for the sale of foreign liquor and Indian-made foreign liquor at restaurants/pubs/bars/hotels) are granted by the excise department only after suitable permissions from PMC and the Food and Drug Administration. The commercial establishments first have to apply to PMC for a change of a residential property into a commercial establishment. This liquor-serving licence is thus a subsidiary one and is granted after the establishment gets an FSSAI licence and a Shop Act licence.”

Ajinkya Udane, Pune co-chapter head of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), said, “Anyone wanting to start an eating joint or pub in a residential area must obtain proper govt permissions and operate within the permissible time limits for both playing music and serving alcohol. Additionally, liquor must be served according to state and local govt regulations, including not serving alcohol to minors. It’s because of a few errant establishments that the entire hospitality industry suffers.”

The FDA licence is also a mandatory requirement before opening a commercial food and beverage business. Suresh Annapure, commissioner of Pune FDA (Food), said the rules do not allow them to look into the space and property aspect of the food joint, eatery, hotel or restaurant.

“What we look majorly at is hygiene, quality of food served, waste disposal and medical aspects, among other factors. If the civic body has issued the commercial establishment the permission to operate, we do not look at the operation norms. For instance, if a joint is operating in the parking space of a society, the society NOC is required in an ideal situation. We do check such documents, but our role largely is about the quality of food and the hygiene maintained,” Annapure said.