Date:01/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/01/stories/2006050119020300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Kitchens in marriage halls: BMP to go slow on drive

Staff Reporter

Many halls sealed for running kitchens in the basement meant for parking
They have been issued notices for unauthorised use of basement space

Some of them are functioning even after they were issued notices, says Mayor

BANGALORE: Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) has sealed many marriage halls in the city, which were running kitchens in the basement meant for parking. But with the wedding season round the corner, it wants to put a brake on the drive.

Corporators on Saturday suggested setting a deadline for hall owners to set things right. "Set a deadline. Let them give us an undertaking that the kitchens will be shifted to the ground or first floor. They can be given time till June/July," Ravindra, ruling party (Congress) leader said at BMP's monthly meeting on Saturday. Corporator B.T. Srinivas Murthy said 18 of the 19 marriage halls in Govindarajanagar, eight of the 11 in Chandra Layout, 146 of the 192 halls in the South division did not have licences. Mayor Mumtaz Begum said there were a number of unauthorised marriage halls, and that some were functioning even after being issued notices.

"The public will face trouble for the next three months is the wedding season," she said. BMP Commissioner K. Jothiramalingam said the marriage halls were issued notices for unauthorised use of basement space.

BMP had powers to issue notices under the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act. It could seal only the kitchens in the basements and not the halls, he said. The BMP has convened ward meetings at 30 places on May 6 to create awareness about the City Development Plan.