The residents of Bengaluru’s Indiranagar continue to protest against the increased commercialisation of the area. On Saturday, scores of residents came out on the streets on Saturday against the opening of a new watering hole.
Residents of Indiranagar 1st Stage, Indiranagar 2nd Stage, HAL 2nd Stage, HAL 3rd Stage and members of the Defence Colony Resident Welfare Association came out in large numbers to protest against the Playboy Beer Club.
The protesters say that setting up a bar at the residential area is a violation of multiple state and national laws, including the city’s master plan. Locals also allege that the proposed microbrewery might harm the environment due to the discharge of effluents, noise pollution and traffic jams.
“We have been taking to the streets to voice our displeasure on pubs and bars abutting residences for the last one-and-a-half years. In this particular case, we have been tracking it from the day the first brick was laid. We had brought it to the attention to the authorities then itself, and now it has been inaugurated,” said one of the protesters.
“This, even though they don’t have a trade license and an excise license,” the protester added.
This, residents say, shows that Playboy Beer Club is hand in glove with the officials.
“This is all politically backed. I don’t know where to put my finger. Successive governments of different parties have played a beautiful hand in making it worse. Who are you holding accountable?” she asked.
"But, the worst is that the bureaucracy has let the citizens down. We can keep talking about politicians, but these properties are often owned by top bureaucrats. In Indiranagar, all these properties are owned by top IAS/ IPS officers. They will all live in some gated communities and be regardless of our pain,” she said.
In a communication sent to the Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner V Shankar, the HAL 2nd Stage Civic Amenities and Cultural Association pointed out five aspects under which the proposed establishment is illegal.
Other than it being a commercial entity in a residential area, the residents pointed out that according to Rule 5 of the Karnataka Excise Licenses (General Conditions) 1967— a bar can’t be set up within 100 metres of an educational or religious institution. In this instance, both New Horizon School and the Methodist Church are less than 100 metres away.
When confronted by angry residents, the proprietor of the bar, Kumar, claimed that the 100-metre rule was not violated and said that the licensing procedure was still in process.
In addition to these, the residents pointed out that four bylaws of the Karnataka Excise (Sale of Indian and Foreign Liquor) rules, 1968 will be violated. These laws deal with granting of liquor licenses in residential areas, minimum land area, minimum parking space and more.
Other than this, they argued that there would be a public nuisance. Moreover, they said that this might also affect the water supply of the area as microbreweries require 20 times more water than an average household.
These violations have also been communicated to the Excise Commissioner, BBMP Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Excise. The matter has also been taken up by the New Horizon School and the Methodist Church with the BBMP and Excise Department.
Even the New Horizon School and the Methodist Church administrations have taken up the matter with the BBMP and the Excise department opposing the bar.