Battle against bar in residential area of Bangalore takes a political turn

The opening of a bar and restaurant at a residential area sparked a public protest and political fight between a local corporator and a senior BJP leader.Residents of Prasanna Layout in Herohalli ward were leading a peaceful life until May 5 when Lakshmi Venkateshwara Bar and Restaurant was opened in their area.The facility, owned by a BJP supporter Srinivas, was relocated from Pantarapalya in Nayandahalli.Upset by the presence of the bar, residents complained to AM Hanumanthe Gowda, the local corporator from JD(S), who sought the immediate closure of the facility. But that was not easy as BBMP council’s ruling party leader BR Nanjundappa allegedly directed the Palike not to take action against the restaurant owner.“The shop was opened in the residential area which is a yellow zone mentioned in the revised master plan. After the bar was opened, the local people kept complaining to me and they also staged protests,” Gowda said.When there was no official response to his appeals, he submitted a memorandum to the Bangalore Urban deputy commissioner and excise department seeking the closure of the bar and restaurant citing inconvenience to the public.“While the deputy commissioner gave an order for shifting the bar, the bar owner got a stay in the city civil court which was later vacated,” he said. Gowda again appealed to the urban deputy commissioner for the closure of the bar.“The DC directed the DySP of excise department to inspect the bar and restaurant and give a report. After getting the report, on September 20, the deputy commissioner directed the bar owner to shift the facility from the residential area,” he said.In the meantime, Gowda demanded the BBMP to demolish the building as, according to him, it is an illegal construction. He also complained to the BBMP’s health department that the owner of the restaurant had not taken a trade licence from the Palike for running the restaurant.The BBMP officers, who finally went to inspect the bar and restaurant, had to return empty handed as Nanjundappa had directed them not to take any action against the  Bangalore restaurants  owner, said Gowda.“The bar owner had not taken licence from the BBMP to run the restaurant. When the officers went to close the restaurant, senior corporator (BR Nanjundappa) directed them not to take any action,” said the souce.“It appears the owner had called a minister who, in turn, told the senior corporator not to allow the BBMP officers to take any action. The officers had to return empty handed,” the source added.Gowda alleged that the direction not to take action against the bar owner came from BBMP council leader Nanjundappa. “But the legal cell permitted the BBMP to close the restaurant and the health department seized it on Friday,” he said.“Gowda told us to close both the bar and the restaurant,” the BBMP officer said.“But since the bar doesn’t come under the BBMP purview, we seized only the restaurant,” the officer said adding that it was difficult for officials to work under such situation.Nanjundappa dismissed allegations against him saying that although the bar owner had come to him for favours, he had rejected them.“The owner requested me to influence officials to prevent others from inspecting the bar and seizing it. But I rejected his request. I too oppose bars coming up in residential areas. So I fully back the corporator in his fight,” said Nanjundappa. There are all kind of Restaurants in Bangalore and People also love to eat Food in South Indian Restaurants.
source "Dnindia "