Fire dept too involved in industrial plot irregularities

Times of India: Nagpur: Friday, 12 December 2014.

The Fire Safety and Emergency Services Department of NMC too is involved in the irregularities related to industrial plots, along with NIT. The department actually gave permission for construction of commercial-cum-residential buildings on industrial plots even before NIT did.

Documents related to Plot Nos 316, 350 and 353 of Eastern Industrial Area Street Scheme situated in mouza Chikhli (Deo), obtained under Right to Information (RTI) Act revealed this. The fire department no-objection-certificate for construction of building is mandatory to get building plan sanctioned by the NIT. As is permissible, NIT had changed the user of the three plots from industrial to commercial. Then the plot owners applied for NOC from the fire department.

Despite there being no provision for mixed use, the fire department went on to give permission for commercial-cum-residential buildings. The department clearly mentioned residential use in five floors and commercial in ground floor in its permission. This was done despite the user being strictly commercial in the plot lease certificate. Later, NIT sanctioned building plans for commercial and residential use on the same plots.

The fire department never took any objection or denied permission despite fire safety norms differing to a great extent according to type of use.

As reported by TOI earlier, municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane and the then additional municipal commissioner Ravindra Kumbhare had denied sanction for commercial-cum-residential buildings on industrial plots. Citing the government notification dated July 20, 2007, the two top officials had said there was no provision for mixed and residential use on an industrial plot. The department had not even taken any view from its own senior officials before giving permissions.

It is a regular practice at the fire department to call for opinion of NMC or NIT's town planning department or the NMC's legal cell in case of any dispute or confusion. The fire department gave permission for plot no 353 on June 19, 2010, plot 350 on September 9, 2010, and plot 316 on July 26, 2012.

When asked, NMC fire department official blamed the NIT. "We are only concerned with fire safety measures and systems. It is the responsibility of NMC or NIT's town planning department to look into user. We recommend measures and system according to user mentioned in the application and draft of building plan," he said.