Kamala Mills pub caught playing with fire

BMC catches The Bar Stock Exchange running rooftop restaurant without licence, fire NOC.

The blaze that ripped through Mojo’s Bistro and 1Above in Kamala Mills around this time last year killing 14 diners, doesn’t seem to have taught any lesson, with the BMC catching another popular pub in the same compound openly flouting fire norms.

During an inspection on Sunday, the civic body found that The Bar Stock Exchange (TBSE), located on the ground floor of Trade World building in Kamala Mills, was serving food and liquor to guests without any licence from the BMC or a No-Objection Certificate (NoC) from the fire brigade. The premises had been further turned into a death trap with huge boxes of alcohol blocking the entry and exit points in the basement.

Both the BMC and the fire brigade quickly swung into action and issued notices to TBSE, barring it from using the terrace to entertain guests.

The Trade Centre building, which housed resto-pubs Mojo’s and 1Above, is located a few blocks away. The BMC inspected six other bars in the same compound, but their violations were minor.

“TBSE had opened its terrace area to the guests without having the licence to do so. It also didn’t have any NOC from the fire department. These were major violations. We immediately issued an inspection report and the restaurant management was asked to remove the terrace set-up. A large stock of liquor was found in the basement. We cleared that too and will be undertaking inspections in the future to ensure that norms are being followed,” said Prabhat Rahangdale, Chief Fire Officer.

When contacted, TBSE officials said they had applied for a licence for the rooftop restaurant, but were yet to receive it. However, in an emailed statement later, the bar denied having arooftop dining zone. “We don’t have any rooftop. We own the ground and first floors,” the email said.

After it came to light that several restaurants, including rooftop eating joints and watering holes, were not adhering to safety standards even a year after the December 29 Kamala Mills tragedy, Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta last week asked BMC officials to carry out fresh inspections to ensure compliance in the run-up to New Year.

According to fire brigade officials, atotal of 377 inspections had been carried out since December 27 and action was taken against 31 establishments. Unauthorised sections of two restaurants were demolished; blocked entry and exit points were cleared at 15 restaurants and bars; 123 LPG cylinders were seized; and notices slapped on one establishment.

Some of the establishments flouting norms are Wilson Gymkhana, Mafatlal Gymkhana, Catholic Gymkhana, Neelyog Mall in Ghatkopar, the Maratha Mandal and Samrudhi Hall in Mulund (West).