Closing illegal rooftop bars on hold due to elections

Poll activities have come in the way of one more important civic duty as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike cited it for putting the closure of illegal rooftop bars on hold.

Indiranagar residents working under the movement 'I Change Indiranagar', representing eight Residents Welfare Associations, including those in HAL 2nd and 3rd stages, met officials of the excise department to find out reasons for their failure to exercise their duties in closing the illegal bars.

The illegal rooftop bars have received closure notices from the fire department, whose officials have said they have performed their duties. All that is left is for the BBMP officials to close down the bars.

But civic body officials cited procedural challenges and the ongoing election duties as reasons for the delay in carrying out the closure order, 'I Change Indiranagar' tweeted.

The officers also told the residents that the BBMP needs to get the permission of the health department to determine whether an establishment is a rooftop bar or not in order to close it. However, they assured residents swift action after the elections are over.