In a major crackdown, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) on Monday sealed seven eateries in Feroz Shah Kotla stadium that were operating illegally and serving food under unhygienic conditions. Civic body officials said the eating establishments were found to be posing risk to public safety in the stadium which is currently hosting IPl matches. The development assumes greater significance as the cricket stadium is functioning in blatant violation of safety norms as it is yet to get completion certificate from the South Delhi Corporation. Ever since the stadium was refurbished for the 2011 Cricket World Cup, the matches are being held here without even obtaining the mandatory safety clearance from the Fire Department. Even a minor fire broke out at the stadium on May 3 when an IPl match between Delhi Daredevils and Rajasthan Royals was underway. Following this, the Delhi Police registered a case under Sections 285 and 336 of IPC for causing fire and endangering public safety.
SDMC spokesperson Mukesh Yadav said an inspection team comprising municipal officials had on May 2 found the anomalies and next day the civic body had asked the DDCA to shutdown the eateries as they posed health risk to public. However, owing to non-compliance of its directions, the Health Department officials visited the stadium again on Monday morning and sealed the eateries. These food points were located near gate no. 7, Hill A, Hill B, Old Club House building roof, players building roof. “The food establishments were running without proper licence in unhygienic and unsanitary conditions. A joint team of SDMC and DDMA inspected the stadium on Monday and sealed seven eateries. The Deputy Commission, Central Zone has passed the sealing order in larger public interest. A fire incident was also reported during the match on May 3,” said Yadav.
Earlier, a notice was also issued to the DDCA on Saturday. “During inspection, the snack bars were found to be posing risk to the general public health. No compliance from the DDCA has been received till date and the Health Department officials noticed major anomalies,” officials said.
It is noteworthy that the DDCA has till date failed to obtain the mandatory occupancy certificate from the civic body as it lacks the necessary documents for the same. For want of occupancy certificate, the DDCA can also not obtain the fire safety clearance. Instead, the cricket matches are being held on the basis of provisional certificate which is only valid for the particular matches. In 2012, the SDMC had denied granting provisional occupancy certificate owing to property tax dues.
