NGT upholds closure notice issued to Tambaram restaurant

CHENNAI: The National Green Tribunal refused to set aside the closure notice issued to Salem RR Biryani’s Tambaram branch.
During a routine inspection, officials from Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) found that the unit was operating from a residential area without TNPCB consent.
At the kitchen of the restaurant, workers were making biryani using firewood as fuel and had installed a firewood boiler with steam cooking facility.
Some LPG cylinders were kept in an open yard and waste water was discharged into the public drain without any treatment.
A show-cause notice was issued to the restaurant last December seeking a formal explanation.
Since the reply was unsatisfactory, another round of inspection was conducted, and officials found that the restaurant continued to violate rules.
In February, a closure order was issued against the unit. Electricity connection was disconnected.
Following this, the restaurant sought three months’ time from the government to shift their kitchen to Guindy Industrial Estate and restore electricity connection till then.
The restaurant claimed that it couldn’t complete the shifting work due to lockdown, and 25% work was still pending.
So the popular restaurant chain approached NGT Southern Zone seeking directions to quash the said closure order.
NGT Southern Zone members Justice K Ramakrishnan and Saibal Dasgupta refused to set aside the order as the restaurant failed to rectify its mistake despite an opportunity given. But they allowed the restaurant to seek some more time from the TNPCB to shift the kitchen.