Mumbai: 'BMC never takes action after 7 pm'

The footpath outside Asiatic Department Store the oldest such establishment in the city turns into an open bar every evening with large groups drinking in the open till late at night Due to the popularity of the spot nearby stalls and hawkers have started supplying fried snacks and boiled eggs to those partyingWhen midday visited the spot near Churchgate railway station around 730 pm on Sunday more than 30 people including minors were seen consuming alcohol The crowd gradually increased with every passing hourThis reporter spotted people buying alcohol from Nita Wines at the Industrial Association Building on Veer Nariman Road They also bought plastic cups and snacks from a stall next to the department store Most of the youth present had come to play cricket at Azad Maidan or Oval Maidan near Churchgate stationIn fact three to four groups were apparently celebrating a victory with a trophy in tow Two friends were also seen shaking a leg Though midday was present there till 930 pm there was no police officer or BMC official in sightA stall owner told midday ldquoMy shop depends on these drinkers because I provide them with glasses and chakna which are a basic requirement for them I have different types of glasses for beer and wine and various kinds of chaknardquoAlso Read Ek footpath ki keemat tum kya jaano babuAsked whether the civic body took cognisance of the goingson in the area he replied ldquoThe BMC never takes action after 7 pm and business starts in the eveningrdquo The owner of a panbeedi stall located near Asiatic Department Store said ldquoMany people prefer to smoke after drinking and customers come to this spot to boozerdquoThe person manning the boiled eggs stall said ldquoI come here with 500 boiled eggs every day and they are all sold out by late night Some drinkers prefer eggs as they are healthyrdquo Senior Inspector Nilesh Bagul of Marine Drive police station said ldquoMy team will personally visit at this spot and take action Drinking in public is an offence We will stop this nuisancerdquoPeople consume alcohol outside Asiatic Department Store near Churchgate on Sunday PicsSameer MarkandeThe Asiatic Store manager told midday ldquoThey are not partying in front of our shop but in a dark place next to it It doesnrsquot cause a nuisance to us Until the shop is open we donrsquot allow anyone to stand thererdquoPeople drink liquor openly near the collectorrsquos office at Kala Nagar in Bandra East on Sunday PicsNimesh DaveAnother public drinkerrsquos paradisemidday also visited another spot outside RNA Park near the collectorrsquos office at Kalanagar in Bandra East which also turns into an open bar after sunset daily Many people were seen drinking alcohol in parked cars and auto rickshaws as well as the corner of the road Outside the collectorrsquos office many illegal stalls have sprung up to provide drinkers with bhel chana chakna and eggs A midday photographer visited this spot around 730 pm on Sunday and found around 40 to 50 people imbibingWhat the law saysDrinking in public is an offence under Section 510 of the Indian Penal Code According to the section ldquoWhoever in a state of intoxication appears in any public place or in any place which it is a trespass in him to enter and there conducts himself in such a manner as to cause annoyance to any person shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to 24 hours or with fine which may extend to ten rupees or with both sicrdquo30No of men spotted drinking in public on Sunday