BUILDING FLOUTED AN ARRAY OF NORMS, SAY OFFICIALS

NEW DELHI: An inquiry by the NDMC 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 MC official said the 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 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.