NMC fire dept declares 1,482 buildings unsafe in fresh survey

The number of unsafe buildings has significantly gone up in the last two years, shows the latest survey by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) fire and emergency services department. As on January 20, 2020, the department has declared 1,482 city structures unsafe under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act 2006 city.

They include all types, from residential properties to educational institutions, hospitals, industrial structures, bar and restaurant, mercantile centres, and mixed occupancies. The department has collated data of errant structures following inspections under two drives. In one, the department assessed 4,433 structures having first fire NOC while in the second it inspected 994 which were governed by old norms, prior to 2006. The latter group also includes 64 places where tuition classes are run. The department has served notices to disconnect power and water supplies at 812 places. Another 180 government buildings have been audited by the department under the same action plan, officials said.

NMC is likely to publish a list with the names of these violators on its website in a couple of days.

Officials said in many cases the electrical and water supply departments have been reluctant to cut off connections as they include essential services. For example, 141 hospitals have been declared ‘unsafe’ but the civic body can’t disconnect power and water supply unless they are vacated. In 120 cases, FIR has been recommended for violations but the cops too are reluctant to go ahead.

On August 3, 2018, TOI had highlighted that 782 structures out of 1,759 were tagged ‘unsafe’ between April 2017 and March 2018. On September 12, 2018, Nagpur bench of Bombay high court had taken sou motu cognisance of the TOI report and initiated proceedings. NMC officials may move the court over police inaction in these cases.
At the same time, among the 4,433, compliance has been completed by 367 property owners. Of the 994, just 97 fixed the deviations and adopted fire safety measures. The department brought the old structures too under its crackdown as large number of people visit these places.

Against the backdrop of the 367 compliances, the jump in unsafe number to 1,482 indicates violations are rampant, while detection too gained pace following a rap from the HC.

Officials said the data gives status of contraventions and fire and safety audit of around 3,300 structures.

The figures are as on January 20, 2020, while the department’s inspection is going on. Officials said each month around 100 structures are being added to the list of violators.
Also, the department has identified 1,414 structures where inspection is yet to be conducted. The inspections are going on for the last five years.

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Table

List of violations (with sanctioned building plan)

Building type ———- 1st NOC —————— Sec 8 (1) ——— Sec (2) ————- Sec 36 ——— Sec 6
Residential ————— 1,283 ————————— 158———— 122——————3———— 73
Hotel/hostel ————— 159 ————————— 40————— 26 ——————3———— 14
Educational ————— 301 ————————— 69—- ——— 40——————- 0———— 35
Hospital ————— —313 ————————— 101— ——— 27 ——————- 0———— 27
Assembly ————— 237 ————————— — 96 ———— 62 ——————-1 ———— 51
Business ————— 205————————— —-16— ——— 12 ——————- 0————— 7
Mercantile ————— 448 ————————— 120— ——— 79——————- 2———— 18
Industrial ————— 564 ————————— 183— ——— 114 ——————- 37———— 165
Storage ————— 11 ————————— ——2— ——— 0 ——————- 0———— 1
Hazardous ———— 270 ————————— 28— ——— 3——————- 3———— 11
Mixed ————— 186 ————————— 93— ——— 50——————- 4———— 52
Bar & Restaurant ——456 ————————— 116— ———71 ——————- 3———— 55
Total —————— 4433 ————————-1022 ———— 606 ————- 56 ———- 367

(Section 6: Notice regarding deviations, non-compliance and violations. Sec 8(1): Power to seal building. Sec 8(2) Disconnection of power and water. Sec 8(3) Sealing the building through police. Sec 36: offences and penalties: Sec 6: Compliance)

List of violations (as per old norms)

Building type ———- Sec 6 ———————— Sec 8 (1) ——— Sec (2) ————— Sec 36 ———— Sec 6
Residential ————— 68————————— 14— ————- 11 ——————- 3————8
Educational ————— 136————————— 77— ——— 25 ——————- 2———— 10
Tuition ————— 83————————— 64— —————- 25 ——————- 22———— 20
Hospital ————— 66 ————————— 40— ————- 31 ——————- 11———— 19
Assembly ————— 108————————— 68— ——— 10 ——————- 3———— 14
Business ————— 4 ————————— 1— ———— 0——————- 0———— 0
Mercantile ————— 107————————— 56— —— 39 ——————- 12——— 17
Industrial ————— 286 ————————— 92— ——— 29 ——————- 7———— 3
Storage ————— 30 ————————— 17— ——— 20——————- 2———— 0
Hazardous ————— 51————————— 12— ——— 0 ——————- 0———— 0
Mixed ————— 20 ————————— 15— ——— 3 ——————- 1———— 0
Bar & Restaurant ——— 31 —————————11— ——— 4 ——————0———— 3
Hotel/hostel ————— 22————————— 13— ——— 9 ——————-1———— 3
total ————————994————————— 480——— 206 ——————- 64———— 97

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com