The Brihanmumbai Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday, December 15, decided to impose a strict 11.30 pm deadline even on New Year’s Eve for hotels, pubs, restaurants and bars.
In the wake of coronavirus pandemic, the civic body has also directed all hotels and restaurants to operate at 33 per cent capacity to maintain social distancing.
This order came after the BMC found many restaurants flouting the rules. Moreover, Mumbai sees large crowds every year gathered in public places, restaurants and nightclubs for New Year celebrations.
The civic body has allowed hotels and restaurants to function from 7 am to 10 pm after the Maharashtra government on October 7 issued guidelines to reopen bars and restaurants in the city.
In December, the BMC started a major drive in pubs and restaurants by fining patrons who were not wearing mask while the club owners are issued show-cause notices for violating the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 as they were running till late hours.
On December 13, the BMC raided two restaurants and two-night clubs for flouting COVID-19 rules. This is in line with the drive BMC had announced in regards to conducting random inspections at nightclubs that are not following any safety measures. According to reports, a total fine of ₹43,200 was collected from all the four establishments.
Read More: BMC to take a decision soon on night curfew after Dec 20
The civic body officials fined 560 visitors who violated the coronavirus norms and did not wear masks. The BMC also distributed masks among them.
Referring to this incident, on December 14, the BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal had stated that the civic body is against the idea of night curfew during the Christmas or the New Years’ time, however, the citizens should not create havoc. If they do, BMC will be forced to take strict actions as a result of it.
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