Hotel apartment in Dubai fined 

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) A four-star hotel apartment in Bur Dubai and the distributors of a popular ayurvedic group from India are in the dock for entering into a pact to store Ayurvedic medicines and products in the basement of the hotel apartment building.

Hundreds of cartons and bottles of ayurvedic medicines were stacked up in the storage area in the basement. "There was no proper ventilation and air-conditioning. And the herbal products were stacked up close to the walls and floors."

The official said the municipality issued fines on both the firms, the names of which were not provided. He did not disclose the amount.

The Dubai Municipality has warned commercial establishments against illegal storage of goods after taking action against the two firms that violated municipal rules.

The Director of the Department of Public Health and Safety at the municipality, Redha Hassan Salman, told Khaleej Times that his inspectors unearthed the illegal practice when they visited the hotel apartment two weeks ago. "We found an illegal warehouse in the basement of the hotel apartment," he said.

"Penalties are taken according to the law. Both of them were wrong. While one party might have been benefitting by getting additional rent, the other one might have been benefitting by having a warehouse closer to the shop. Such practices are wrong even if the firms are of the same owners."

Salman said the municipality, which sealed the illegal warehouse, also ordered the immediate removal of the stock from the basement. Samples of the medicines have been sent for testing to ensure their quality.

"We have clear laws regarding the storage of different types of goods and materials, including the hazardous ones. It is a must for all firms to abide by them. We cannot take any risk in matters related to public health and safety," the official said.