The Times of India             14.06.2013

Nashik Municipal Corporation plans to launch mulls crackdown on illegal unauthorized hotels

NASHIK: The civic body is planning to launch a special drive against unauthorized hotels and sweet shops in the city. This was decided by Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) standing committee chairman Ramesh Dhongade in the wake of the fire that broke out at an eatery on College Road on Wednesday.

"We are planning to take action against all unauthorized hotels and restaurants that do not have necessary licences from the NMC's fire brigade department. It is mandatory for all hotels, restaurants and sweet shops to obtain the licence and abide by the norms set by the fire brigade department. Action will be taken against the hotels and the sweet shops not abiding by the norms," Dhongade said.

"There are many unauthorized restaurants in the city operating on terraces. Most of these hotels have not taken permission and are functioning in unauthorized ways. We will also take action against such roof-top or terrace hotels. We are planning to conduct survey of all hotels and sweet shops in the city. The issue will be taken up at the next meeting of the standing committee. Instructions will be issued to the officials concerned during the meeting," he added.

According to sources, there are around 300 hotels and restaurants and nearly 200 sweet shops across the city.

Five personnel of the fire brigade department suffered burns and another received a shoulder injury while putting out a blaze at the sweet shop on Wednesday morning. The blaze had broken out on the mezzanine floor of Jalaram Sweets on Canada Corner around 7.30am and that there was no outlet for the smoke. Two fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

When the fire brigade personnel were about to enter the shop, they were told that only farsan had been stored inside. But as they entered, huge flames almost engulfed them. They received burns, but survived as they were wearing fire-proof jackets. A diesel oven, meant for preparing sweets, was found inside the shop.

Dhongade said though the shop had only a licence to sell, sweets were being prepared inside.