Kolkata: State urban development & municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul on Wednesday said that govt will allow a month’s time to hotels and restaurants operating without a fire licence to apply for the same.“If any hotel or restaurant is running without permission, we have the right to seal them. There is a rule for converting residential building premises into commercial. We had gone to Marquis Street and Free School Street where flats have become hotels. This will not be allowed. For those having permission to run and having trade licence but do not have fire licence, we are giving you 30 days to apply,” the minister said.The minister also added that they will conduct a drive with the food department on matters about food safety. “We are to take a drive with the food dept on this,” Paul said.Paul asked Hotel & Restaurant Association of Eastern India (HRAEI) to communicate to all its members that they need to get fire and all other necessary clearances to ensure safety. “We have been asked to initiate mandatory fire safety measures and apply for an NOC within a month. Since it is the govt which is held responsible when a mishap occurs, the minister is keen to ensure that all necessary instructions are communicated to us and we start complying. We have started conveying the message to our members and we expect cooperation from the govt,” said HRAEI president Sudesh Poddar.The major hurdle in the way of an NOC was old buildings that house scores of such restaurants. Many of them don’t have an NOC since they find it difficult to adhere to safety requirements due to construction issues. “We have asked for quick clearances for additional structures to meet safety norms. For instance, if a building needs an additional corridor or a balcony to serve as emergency outlets, these need clearances, too. Often, they take time to be issued and the building authorities don’t pursue the cases, leaving occupants without an NOC,” added Poddar.Restaurants were also asked to maintain hygiene standards of their food and ensure it was stored properly. Civic officials raided several restaurants and shops across Kolkata and Salt Lake to check on their hygienic standards. Some were asked to improve their storage facilities and stale food items were seized.
