• Source:JND
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The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has started issuing notices ordering closure of all rooftop restaurants in the city after a massive fire in a hotel claimed the lives of 14 people on April 29.

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Mayor and Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim said all the rooftop restaurants will have to be shut down to ensure unhindered access to premises in case of an emergency. "A roof, being a common space, cannot be sold for commercial purposes," he said.

On being asked if the civic body will use force to shut down the restaurants, Hakim said, "We are issuing notices to them for immediate closure of restaurants on rooftops and shifting such eateries to lower floors of a building or other places. If they fail to comply with the order, we will take appropriate steps."  

Hakim further added that a meeting with the municipal commissioners, fire brigade officials, and police officials will be held to chalk out steps to prevent happening of such incidents in the future.

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Meanwhile, an official said that a closure notice had already been served to a restaurant in the Park Street area of the city.

He added that the KMC is in the process of preparing a report on the number of rooftop restaurants in the city. The step comes in the wake of a deadly fire at the Rituraj Hotel at Mechhuapatti in the Burrabazar area on April 29. 14 people had lost their lives in the fire.

13 others were also injured in the fire that broke out at around 7:30 pm on Tuesday. Expressing anguish over the loss of lives, PM Modi had announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased. The Kolkata Police later formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.

(With PTI Inputs)

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