10 banquet halls operate without fire NOCs in Ggn

Gurugram: Even though it is a well-known fact that there are a host of illegal settlements that continue to exist around the Airforce ammunition depot, a recent RTI has highlighted the further dangers of these structures. In the wake of Surat fire tragedy that claimed 22 lives, there can be a much bigger and deadlier mishap in Gurugram.

An RTI filed by Harinder Dhingra stated that there are 10 banquet halls that are functioning within 300 metres distance of Airforce ammunition depot.

Moreover, the information further reveals that there are 34 illegal banquet halls that are functioning within 900 metres around the defence zone where a large number of explosives are stored.

Even though Haryana Lokayukta has placed a red herring notice over the entire matter there has been no action taken by the Gurugram public agencies.

According to sources, there has been a fire tragedy around the area around ten years. Looking at the dangers involved the Defence Ministry filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana high court.

Even as objections were by Airforce officials to prohibit the setting up of civil establishments, the number of civil setups have only grown around the area. Not only the Airforce station but even an Army cantonment area that is located a few kilometres away face similar challenges. On the repeated complaint by Defence personnel, a plea was filed leading the intervention of judiciary into the matter.

Ninety per cent for the halls does not meet the guidelines of the municipal body. Moreover, most of these halls have come up at the 900-metre restricted zone of the Indian Airforce ammunition depot.

With weddings being a viable business, these banquet halls for long have been earning huge profits and have gained popularity as alternatives compared to farmhouses in South and South-West Delhi that are more expensive.

Some of the major rules which the marriage halls have to comply with are being located at the main road which is 18 metre and the service road being 12 metres wide. It should be spread in the area of minimum one acre. The ground floor must be around 50 per cent of the construction area, the banquet hall must not be 21 metres long and the main entrance should be 1.8 metres lower than the building.