The St. Thomas Mount-cum-Pallavaram Cantonment Board has objected to the functioning of the central kitchen of a leading restaurant chain on the premises of private marriage hall in its jurisdiction.
A team of officials and staff from the board arrived at the kitchen functioning within Balaji marriage hall on Seven Wells Road in St. Thomas Mount. The officials inspected the premises of the hall and informed supervisors there that they did not have the necessary permits to function.
Brigadier Deepak Sharma, president of the board, directed staff to take appropriate action against the private firm running the kitchen. Board officials said the hall, which had been constructed seven years ago, was rented out four years ago to the restaurant.
“The permission given to the builder was for the purpose of conducting weddings and functions. It is against the rules for a huge kitchen to function out of the premises. The licence obtained by the restaurant to run the kitchen expired in March and the Board will not renew it,” said S. Prabhakaran, Chief Executive Officer of the Board.
He said that unhygienic and insanitary conditions around the kitchen were also a cause for concern.
Kitchen staff said they had obtained all the necessary permits. Some staff members also wondered why action was being taken now as the kitchen had been functioning from the same premises for years.
Residents however seemed relieved as they had earlier complained about the kitchen.
They said the movement of heavy vehicles and operation of machinery and stoves early in the morning was a nuisance. Often, sewage from the kitchen would be let out into the stormwater drain leading to a revolting odour. “Many residents have complained often to the Board,” said Devi Mahesh, a resident.
