19 December,2011 08:19 AM IST | | Urvashi Seth
After receiving complaints from residents living near Royalty club, members of H-west ALM express disbelief that the club was reopened in spite of protests
For a relationship that has oscillated in the past between anger and frustration, residents of Waterfield Road in Bandra (W) are aggrieved again.
Few days after Royalty, the swanky nightclub reopened, residents are at war again with the new owners of the club.
Disturbing the peace: Residents living near the newly-reopened
Royalty club say the loud music makes it difficult for them to sleep at
night. File pic
Hard on the ears
Residents of buildings adjacentu00a0 to the clubu00a0-- Red Rose and Chitraput societyu00a0-- have complained to the ALMs of H-West Federation regarding the noise pollution caused by the loud music emanating from the club.u00a0
"This is ridiculous. Even after numerous complaints the club owners managed to reopen the place. R R Patil had closed it down, but the club has started functioning again. Who gave them permission to start the club? We have already started receiving complaints from the residents of the adjacent buildings complaining about the loud music that is on till late in the night," said Manuela Saldhana, ALM H-west Federation.
"The club is in the basement and situated in a residential building. BMC norms clearly state that the basement should be used for parking and storage and not for any other activities. So how did they get permission? Also, if they managed to get things done lawfully, how did the authorities give them the permission?" asked Saldhana.u00a0
No peace at all Residents complain that the loud music is disturbing the peace of the residents staying next to the club.
Although the club has managed to make a few alterations by changing their entrance and erecting sound barriers, residents allege it's of no use.
A resident, on the condition of anonymity, said, "In every nook and corner of Bandra one can see a club or pub mushrooming. Don't know how they get the permission to start making our life hell. BMC should revoke licences of these restaurants and clubs."
This is not the first time that residents have complained about the difficulties faced due to this high-end club.
After an IPL party in 2010, residents filed an official complaint with the Bandra police, alleging disturbance to peace. Ever since, the club's doors had remained shut.
u00a0
According to a source, the club spent a fortune to sound proof the club before they formally reopened it for partygoers.
The other side
"We have installed a sound proof system where there are no chances of noise issuing of the club. Not only this, we have installed three doors to minimise the decibel level after any customer opens the door. Even the entrance of the club has been changed to make sure the residents face no traffic problems. Peace and serenity of residents is our prime responsibility and we are ensuring that no citizen faces any problem," said Prashant Gunjalkar, co-owner, Royalty.
