Building a firetrap, flouted an array of norms, say officials

NEW DELHI: A preliminary inquiry by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation has shown that the Mundka building where a devastating blaze killed at least 27 people on Friday did not have a legal building plan, was operating a CCTV assembling unit without a factory licence, and lacked basic safety measures. The fire department has also confirmed that the building did not have a safety clearance certificate.

A senior North MCD official from the factory licensing department said that the preliminary inquiry has found that the building was located in the Lal Dora extension area of the Mundka village where industrial activity is not allowed.

“The unit did not have a valid factory licence or a DPCC (Delhi Pollution Control Committee) consent to operate. An application may have been filed by a unit in this property in 2014-15 but no licence was issued. This property lies in a non-conforming area [area where industrial activity was not allowed],” the official said.

The building — consisting of at least one assembly unit, commercial establishments and residential units — is located on a small plot on the border of Mundka industrial area and the village. The civic body is responsible for regulating operations in Lal Dora areas.

A senior official from Narela municipal zone, who is part of the inquiry team, said only trades, like grocery shops and salons, are allowed in Lal Dora extensions.

“Such a large assembly of people in the unit indicates that large-scale factory work was being carried out. We have also not found any records of the building plan of the plot so far,” official said.

In the past, the municipal corporations of Delhi have submitted multiple affidavits promising to close industrial units in nonconforming areas of the city in the Supreme Court but the tragedy in Mundka has also raised questions about the efficacy of such drives.

According to officials, the North MCD issued orders on Friday to all six deputy commissioners to carry out surveys of such industrial units in their zones and take action against them in the next 10 days.

Anil Lakra, the local area councillor from AAP, said that action should be taken against guilty officials as well as owners.

Jogi Ram Jain, the standing committee chairman said that the inquiry report will be made public within three days. “Whatever fault is found on the MCDS’ part, we will take action against the officials,” he added.

AK Jain, former town planner and retired commissioner (planning), Delhi Development Authority, said there has been complete laxity in regulating lal dora areas. “DDA had suggested to the Delhi government that the list of all the factory units operating in such areas should be put in public domain so that people can check if a unit is operating legally. However, the suggestion wasn’t accepted and the illegality continued,” Jain said.

A municipal official said that the action against industries in non-conforming areas has been taken several times but new units keep opening up.