PUNE: While the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) has decided not to renew trade license or issue fresh license to any applicants after 2006, traders and hoteliers in the jurisdiction feel let down.
During the recent PCB General Body meeting, the Board had approved agenda No 40 related to the issuance of trade license under section 277 of the Cantonments Act, 2006.
DN Yadav, Chief Executive Officer of PCB, said, “As per section 277 of the Cantonment Act 2006, those who have got trade license before 2006 will not have to renew the license. In case of violations, notices can be served to those who are keeping the restaurant unhygienic or misusing the property, three months period will be given to them to file their say before the board.”
Restaurants feel cheated
On the other hand, the 12 restaurant owners, who have been served notices of illegally using leased defence land for commercial purpose, feel that they are being cheated by the Board, as they should have first served the notice of non-renewal of any license.
Anis Somjee, owner of Bagban Restaurant, East Street, said, “We feel cheated, as the Board should have first taken the decision of non-renewal of the trade license. This could have been beneficial for us, as we wouldn’t have presented our trade license in front of the Board. There are two other establishments on the same land where I run my restaurant, both come under the defence land. But they have not been served any notice. From all sides, we are being cheated.”
Behram Zaeb, owner of Badshah restaurant, East Street, said, “There are several other restaurants in this area whose land comes under defence residential zone. Since we have got the permission letter from PCB at the time we started our business, how can they serve such letter to us and also how can they now say that the trade license will not be renewed. This is a clear case of us being cheated.”
