Shops shut by BBMP in Indiranagar back in biz in hours

Hours after the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) closed 15 commercial establishments in Indiranagar on Saturday afternoon, they opened again for business by late evening.

The shops at 10th Main, Fourth Cross in Indiranagar second stage were closed down on the basis of the May 2017 High Court orders. They were back on business five hours later with the help of the local corporators.

The writ appeal (No 1569) filed by the Indiranagar 2nd stage residents mentioned that about 77 shops in wards 80,89 are in violation of the Revised Master Plan-2015 stipulating commercial establishments from functioning in residential areas on roads less than 40 feet wide. These shops do not even have trade licenses.

Among the businesses opened again were two bars --Bottle and Glass and Tippler— closed two weeks ago for serving liquor to under aged drinkers and failing to produce the occupancy certificate.

Despite the high court favouring the residents, the BBMP dragged its feet over issuing closure orders by calling the commercial establishments for a hearing. “We’ve closed about 10 shops since yesterday,” a senior BBMP official said.

“Three of them voluntarily shut shop based on the closure orders we gave.”

The initial hope that the BBMP would act on the court orders wore off on residents who felt thoroughly let down by the civic body.

A resident said, “We welcome this action by the BBMP. However, some traders blame us for the action. How can we be blamed for everything? We are just asking the law to be implemented.”

Traders reportedly met MLA S Raghu on Saturday to get the closure orders revoked.

Another resident also said the law allows certain ancillary shops such as grocery, but not the ones related to technology or software companies.

Meanwhile, residents mobilising the locals to organize a peaceful demonstration are receiving threat calls. They met Police commissioner T Sunil Kumar on Saturday seeking protection.