More alleged illegalities emerge in connection to industrial canteen being run as posh food hub

The bars and restaurants operate from a plot meant for an industrial canteen

A day after mid-day highlighted that multi-storey restaurants and bars were allowed to run from a plot marked for a canteen for industrial workers at Kailas Business Park in Vikhroli-Powai, more alleged illegalities tied to the space have emerged. A BMC licence given to one of the restaurants was taken against a vacant plot in the area, show documents accessed by this newspaper.

Permissions for the hotel business were given against this vacant land in Vikhroli-Powai. Pics/Sameer Markande

On government records, there is a multi-storey restaurant and bar on a plot having CTS number 1/9A/1B. However, the ground reality is different - this plot number submitted to obtain permissions from the BMC and excise department to run a restaurant and serve liquor is completely vacant. On Thursday, mid-day reported that posh restaurants and bars were operating from a place that was marked as an amenity - canteen for industrial workers - as part of a redevelopment project of an industrial site.

One of the bars and restaurants in question run from a building on plot CTS 1/7, a property that was supposed to be a canteen for industrial workers at Kailash Industrial Estate between Vikhroli and Powai, though its permissions have been issued against plot number CTS 1/9A/1B. Manohar Jariyal, a Right to Information (RTI) activist who complained about the alleged violation, said it looks like a deliberate attempt to mislead agencies by providing wrong documents. "This needs to be thoroughly investigated and action should be initiated against those doing such wrongful acts," Jariyal said.

The document with incorrect plot number to secure permissions (right) Plot number of the place where the restaurant and bar is located

The activist said the BMC, excise and fire brigade department should cancel all the permissions issued to the erring firm that's running the restaurant and bar business on the premises marked as the industrial canteen. "Till complete investigation is not done in this case, all the permissions issued should be immediately revoked," added Jariyal.

The plot in Vikhroli-Powai against which permissions have been taken but business is running from a different space

Ravindra Tiwari, a local activist, questioned the loopholes in the system. "Ideally, permissions are issued after physical inspection of the premises. In this case, whether any inspection was carried out? If yes, then how the goof-up went unnoticed or was it deliberately ignored. All these need to be probed," said Tiwari. Despite repeated attempts, Sanjay Sonawane, assistant municipal commissioner of N ward, was not available for comment.

The posh bars and restaurants at Kailas Business Park in Vikhroli-Powai

‘No violations at all'

A source close to the developer, D K Patel firm, insisted there are no irregularities. "The property is as per BMC's approved plan, the canteen has been built as per the BMC-approved plan. There was a typo in the agreement mentioning the CTS number for which the registered rectification deed was executed and furnished to the authorities to incorporate the correct CTS number on the licence."

The source added, "There are some miscreants trying to jeopardise our image and creating hurdles for their personal benefits. Also, the parking is as per the plans and there are absolutely no violations."