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HSR Layout residents, led by a retired Army major, are opposed to cops giving NOC to ‘noisy’ rooftop bar

The police have drawn flak from liberal sections for imposing restrictions on the city’s nightlife, but they’ve also won some applause from more staid sections for cracking down on loud music and dancing in the neighbourhood.
 
 
 
Emboldened by the latest police diktat to bars and restaurants to stop playing music after 10 pm, some residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) are pressing the authorities not to renew the licences of these establishments.
 
 
 
In fact, when the local police sought the feedback of residents of HSR Layout before an NOC could be issued to the Elite Royale rooftop bar in area for playing music, the latter raised objections. The hotel-cum-restaurant, located on 9th Main, 13th Cross of HSR Layout 6th Sector, is owned by businessman Neeraj Chabbra
 
 
 
Leading the residents’ opposition is 75-year-old Major (retd) M V Nagthan, who was waging a lone battle against the rooftop bar till his neighbours joined him recently.
 
 
 
Speaking to BM, Nagthan said, “On July 22 I gave a complaint against the hotel management to the city police commissioner, the BBMP commissioner and the excise commissioner. We are opposing the rooftop bar as the management plays music without following the mandatory noise rules as stipulated under the Environment Protection Act. Loud music, howling and whistling go on past midnight, especially on weekends. This has caused a public nuisance ever since the hotel opened in February 2009.”
 
 
 
He alleged that despite some residents complaining to the DCP (south-east) against the hotel on September 24, 2011, nothing had happened.
 
 
 
The residents’ complaint to the city police commissioner reads: “We are shocked how a rooftop bar and restaurant with loud music and DJs, and unruly and irresponsible customers, was granted a licence in a residential area.” The complaint adds that the local police have not cared to curb the menace in spite of the residents informing the Madiwala police station.
 
 
 
Nagthan said the officials should cancel the establishment’s licence, adding that the nuisance gets worse when sports events are happening as the hotel has installed a widescreen TV.
 
 
 
Hardly 50 metres away from the hotel is a private hospital. Ayappa, an attendant to one of the patients, said, “My relative has been here for the past three days and can’t sleep because of the loud music.”
 
 
 
When contacted, the hotel’s managing director Neeraj Chhabra said, “We are running our business for the past five years and residents have had no objection so far. We are following all the rules and regulations with respect to the decibel level of the music.”
 
 
 
Madivala police station inspector M K Ganapathi said, “There was a problem earlier with the loud music played by the hotel management. We had warned them to stop the music after 10 pm. According to me, that has happened. So far there has been no complaint in this regard. But we will make random checks because we need to give an NOC to the management.”
 
 
 
Deputy commissioner in the excise department (Bangalore south) Jagadish Naik said, “As excise officials, our duty is to check whether a bar is doing business near a prohibited public place. There is a hospital less than 100 metres from the bar. The bar is functioning, which means the licence has been renewed, but what we can do is to see that the bar shuts down after 11.30 pm. The local police have to take action with regard to the music.”

‘WE DON’T WANT MUMBAI CULTURE HERE’