Delhi High Court seals 21 eateries in Hauz Khas village operating without environmental clearance

New Delhi: 21 eateries in the city’s Hauz Khas village, which were operating without environment clearances were sealed on Saturday days after the Delhi High Court observed that the party zone was a “ticking time bomb”. The eateries were sealed during a joint operation led by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the Police between 9 am and 2 pm, a government official said. [caption id=“attachment_4042849” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AFP[/caption] These establishments did not have the consent to establish or consent to operate, the DPCC, which had served show cause notices to them in April, said. The sealing drive was undertaken as the owners of the bars and restaurants failed to reply to the show cause notices. The sealing was conducted under section 33A of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and section 31A of Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. On 15 September, a bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal warned the associations of restaurants owners that they will not be allowed escape civil and criminal liability in case any unfortunate incident takes place, as there was virtually no space for emergency vehicles to enter the area. “The reports of Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, SDMC and the Delhi Jal Board illustrate that the Hauz Khas village is a ticking time bomb without essential civic and emergency services,” it had observed.