The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the environmental watchdog of the national Capital on Thursday sealed the premises of five restaurants running illegally in the Garden of Five Senses, a famous address in South Delhi. The restaurants are situated in Said-ul-Ajaib village area close to the Mehrauli heritage site.

According to an official of the DPCC, there was a complaint against five restaurants namely The Zoo Bar, Barka lounge, Jacpot Nitelife, O Bar and Budapest World Cuisine & Bar. These five restaurants are situation in Garden of Five Senses. According to the complaint, the restaurants are functioning without the mandatory provisions of Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) and the consent from the DPCC. Officials say that the direction for closure of five restaurants has been issued under Section 33(A) of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and u/S 31(A) of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 for violating environmental norms.

Prior to the raid by the DPCC authorities on Thursday, an official complaint was lodged by the Department of Tourism in this regard. In the complaint, it was mentioned that the five restaurants were running in contravention to air and pollution rules and there was also no permission from the competent authority in this regard. A team of DPCC experts had conducted a detailed survey of the restaurants that were being run by different owners in the premises. This survey was conducted on February 7 and glaring anomalies were found. Five restaurants that were sealed on Thursday were found to be violating the air and pollution norms and were issues notices on then and there. The DPCC has asked for a reply from the owners warning them of

stringent action in case they defaulted. The restaurant owners failed to reply to the DPCC within the stipulated period. Accordingly, a team of DPCC officials visited Garden of Five Senses and ordered the closure of the restaurants. The DPCC also directed the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and BSES to disconnect the water and power connection.

A DPCC official also said that the owners of these restaurants were aware that restaurants functioning from Hauz Khas village on the same violations have petitioned the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The NGT is engaged in the hearing while those running the five restaurants from the premises of Garden of Five Senses were deliberately avoiding the laid down guidelines. “The owners can very well approach the court for the redressal of their grievances but they will have to abide by the Delhi air and pollution norms,” the official added.