BMC officials had given bar a week to shift kitchen to original position, or face legal action

Don't get shocked if you aren't served food at Bandra's Zenzi Lounge in the next few days. This may be the future for the plush bar after the BMC has asked the lounge to shift its kitchen to its original position by tomorrow.

The news comes a day after MiD DAY reported that the civic body had demolished the illegal wall and water tank ('BMC demolition squad at Zenzi', January 12).


The kitchen plan of Bandra's Zenzi Lounge is different from the one the owners had produced to the BMC authorities

According to the BMC's show cause notice, which was issued on January 7 (copy is with MiD DAY) the BMC had raised the issue of the establishment shifting the kitchen to another area, which is not similar to the plan provided by the lounge owners to the authorities.

Officials have given the lounge seven days to rectify the infringements, the deadline for which ends tomorrow.
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Confirming the notice being issued, Dr Shridhar Kubal, senior official from the health department (BMC), said, "We have issued them a notice to shift the kitchen as after inspection we found that the present location of the kitchen does not match the plan that was submitted by the lounge."

The notice also states that Zenzi had violated other laws such as exhibiting licences, which is a must by all establishments.

"We have sought their reply on the matter, after which we will decide the course of action," said Mahendra Sawant, senior official from H-west building and factory department.

Syed Arif, who stays above Zenzi and has been vocal against the establishment for creating nuisance in the area, said, "Earlier they had their kitchen on the first floor that was later shifted to the ground floor as it was proven to be hazardous.

Now the kitchen is on the rear side of the lounge, which is again hazardous, and against BMC norms. Besides this, the fumes released from the kitchen are also creating problems for us especially to my family as it is just below my window and just adjacent to another building where residents too, have been constantly complaining about the structure."

Zenzi's Breaches
Alleged violations by the lounge as per residents:
>>Open space is used for commercial purposes.
>>Management has not reinstated inner walls that they have demolished
>>No parking space creating traffic snarl and nuisance in the area.
>>5 feet walls have not been reinstated.
>>Kitchen is creating problem for residents residing above the establishment.
>>Many illegal exit and entry points have been made.