1,400 buildings without fire safety equipment?

NAGPUR: If you are politically well-connected then even if you don’t have fire safety equipment in your high-rise building or establishment, you
can get a no objection certificate (NOC) from the ‘culprit’- Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).

Due to the NMC’s ‘blessings’, there are more than 1,400 buildings and establishments have toyed with the fire safety norms, revealed a highly-placed source in the NMC.

The state government recently issued directives to the fire and emergency services department to inspect such buildings and submit a report within 15 days.

Naeem Khan, senior station officer told TOI that four teams comprising senior officials of the department have been formed. The teams will inspect all the 1,400 buildings.

However, Khan admitted that it would be a Herculean task to find out whether the national building code and the development control regulation norms were followed or not.

Sources pointed out that this directive will play an important role in tightening the loose ends in the department in the wake of the suspension of in-charge chief fire officer Chandrashekhar Jadhav. Action was taken against Jadhav after he allegedly issued an NOC for a building in Mominpura which did not follow any of the safety norms.
Similarly, the fire department also issued NOCs for many high-rise buildings without inspecting them.

Though this irregularity was highlighted in the winter session of the state assembly, the NMC and the fire and emergency services department failed to act swiftly, alleged the source.

There are many officials in the department who allegedly violate the NBC and DCR rules. They have not faced any action so far due to their links with influential persons in the civic body, alleged the source.

A leading fireman posted in Lakadganj fire station, who is reportedly delivering mails for corporators since 20 years, is allegedly helping builders to get NOCs for their high-rise buildings, said the source. This fireman also plays spoilsport if any objections are raised, added the source. With the help of an ex-corporator, he threatens his colleagues of dire consequences if they don’t tow the line.

Deputy municipal commissioner R Z Siddique, who is holding additional charge of the CFO played it safe. He told TOI that the department ‘focuses’ on high-rise buildings such as educational institutions, hostels, hotels and shopping malls.

Meanwhile, suspended in-charge CFO Jadhav on Monday submitted his explanation to civic chief Aseem Gupta.
Jadhav pointed out that the NOC was given for trade and not for the building.
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