As deadline ends, rooftop bars claim fire safety changes done

As the deadline to comply with fire safety norms ends, owners of several rooftop pubs and bars claim they have carried out the required changes.

On December 30, officials of the Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services (KSFES) issued 70 notices to rooftop pubs and bars in the city for breach of safety regulations.

"It has been a week since we shut up shop after getting the closure notice," said Naresh Babu, the manager of Swing Pub and Bar. "We've now fixed the issues. We've replaced the old fire extinguishers and have made emergency exists. We're waiting for No Objection Certificates from BBMP and the KSFES."

Regulars to Pecos were dismayed to learn that the pub had been given a closure notice. "Pecos is on the first floor of the building in Indiranagar, but the closure notice was given to a rooftop pub above Pecos called Swing," said Nitin Bhandary, a techie.

Pecos manager Srinivas Gowda confirmed that the pub had not been slapped with a closure notice.

Managers of Tipsy Bull and Vapour Pub and Brewery in Indiranagar, when contacted by DH, declined to comment on the matter.

"After January 16, we'll check once again to see if the pubs have carried out the required safety measures," said IGP and Additional Director for Fire and Emergency Services Soumendu Mukherjee. "If the rooftop bars have not complied with the fire safety norms, we'll shut them down."

The BBMP also held a checking drive on these pubs to see if they had complied with building bylaws and hygiene stipulations.

Data received from BBMP Chief Health Officer M N Lokesh shows that 125 rooftop bars and pubs have been issued notices and 65 are already shut. Bengaluru south zone had 53 illegal rooftop bars and pubs, the highest among the eight BBMP zones.