North corp, Delhi fire agency at odds over norm violations

KAROL BAGH FIRE Delhi fire services claimed rooftop had temporary structure built on it

NEWDELHI: Licensing authorities, speaking about the Karol Bagh fire on Tuesday, denied that Hotel Arpit Palace had violated any norms, even as the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) said the owners were illegally operating a second eatery on the rooftop of the hotel.

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation, which issues health trade licences (HTL) to such hotels, did not acknowledge the existence of the rooftop restaurant, but it initiated an inquiry to find possible lapses.

“We are appointing Ira Singhal, deputy commissioner, Keshavpuram Zone, to conduct a detailed enquiry into the lapses, if any, on the north MCD’S part, and to suggest improvement measures for the area,” the north MCD said in a statement.

The Delhi Fire Service (DFS), which issues fire no-objection certificates (NOCS) to these guest houses, said the hotel owner began violations on the terrace or the fifth floor after it obtained a fire clearance in December 2014. A fire NOC is valid for three years.

The DFS also said the rooftop had a temporary structure covered with fibre sheets. As per the rules, owners are not allowed to cover terraces of their buildings.

“The terrace was sealed with a brick wall when the fire safety certificate was issued to the hotel on December 12, 2014. Later, a re-inspection was done by the DFS on December 4, 2017. At that time, fire officials found the fifth floor wall open.they were letting guests into the terrace, which was being used as a restaurant. The wall was then sealed again,” Atul Garg, chief fire officer, DFS, said.

Senior officials of the north MCD’S public health department, however, said there was no restaurant running on the top floor. He added that the north MCD issued HTLS on the basis of fire NOCS obtained by them. “A fire NOC is the basic requirement. After that, we just check the height of the rooms, ventilation, lighting, bathrooms and payment of parking and conversion charges, and issue the license,” an official said.

But, the DFS said the fire safety certificate was issued only for the basement being used as storage, the ground floor — used for a restaurant and reception, the first and second floors with 12 guest rooms each, and the third and fourth floors with 11 each, he maintained.

North MCD mayor, Adesh Kumar Gupta, said the structure was built in 1993. “Since the ‘National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act’ came into force in 2007, providing immunity from demolition to all illegal/unauthorised constructions built till then, this hotel was safe,” he said.

The Special Provisions Act came into force in 2006 to stop a sealing drive against unauthorised shops, factories and hotels during ex-chief minister Sheila Dikshit’s tenure. Since then, it has been extended at least five times. Most recently, it was extended till 31 December 2020, with the Lok Sabha passing an amendment to the law.

Another violation pointed out by the Delhi Police was that the building’s emergency exit was locked. “There were lapses and wilful negligence. The emergency exit was blocked by goods and packages,” Mandeep Singh Randhawa, DCP (central), said.

Meanwhile, on the directions of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, state home minister Satyendar Jain wrote to revenue minister Kailash Gahlot to initiate a magisterial inquiry to ascertain how the building had more than four floors. As per bylaws of the area, no building can have more than four floors.