Commission directs kitchen modifications, temporary halt to operations for safety of residents
PANAJI
The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has recommended that the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) immediately order the suspension of operations at a Margao-based Café till it complies with specific directives to safeguard residents from noise, heat and vibrations.
In its inquiry report on Friday, the Commission also directed that the kitchen of Café 108 in Borda, the exhaust be raised above the building’s roof and all cooking and grinding activities be shifted to the ground floor to prevent heat generation and vibrations affecting the apartment above.
It also insisted on shock-proof and heat-resistant measures as the recommendation was pronounced following a complaint filed by senior citizen Rajiv Naik Dalal, who resides in the same housing society where Café 108 operates.
Dalal alleged that the kitchen of the restaurant shifted on the mezzanine floor, with three industrial exhaust fans and two heavy-duty wet grinders/kneading equipment on the mezzanine floor, creating noise and disturbing vibrations.
The Complainant also brought to the notice of the Commission that he approached several government agencies but in vain, prompting him to seek relief from the GHRC.
Although the GSPCB had issued a show-cause notice in December 2024 and directed corrective steps, the Commission of Acting Chairperson Desmond D’Costa and Member Pramod Kamat observed that the board failed to enforce its own orders. It held that such negligence amounted to a violation of human rights under Section 12(a)(ii) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
The Commission noted that Café 108 had obtained a licence from the Margao Municipal Council in November 2024 and a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India registration valid till October 2025. The restaurant later secured consent to operate from the GSPCB in March 2025, valid till November 2026, after initially being found to be running without clearance.
With the recommendations, the Commission sent its report to the GSPCB seeking comments and details of action taken within 60 days, by December 4.
