In the firing lineManama Council gets tough with violating establishments

HUNDREDS of shops and workshops are in the firing line as the Manama Municipal Council prepares for a crackdown to clamp violations.Next week, the council will review violations by restaurants, garages, workshops and coffee shops and may fine or close down many as an immediate action, chairman Murtada Bader told Bahrain Tribune yesterday.“We are ready to take strict action against the shops who have been violating municipal norms for years with impunity. For example, many restaurants are selling alcohol though they are supposed to serve only food. And many food outlets and coffee shops are serving shisha without permission,” he said.Bader said scores of garages had encroached upon footpaths to carry out repairs without permission. Many garages have abandoned cars on the road after using their parts.He said municipality inspectors, who had been raiding shops and garages, would submit a comprehensive report to the council next week.