Delhi's illegal factories: A ticking time bomb
New Delhi: Unauthorised colonies, cheap labour, use of residential buildings for commercial purposes are few of the many factors which lure owners to establish an illegal factory. Whether it was the Burari fire incident where 17 people died or the Anaj Mandi inferno which claimed 43 lives, the national Capital witnessed mass deaths because of factory owners' greed and the authorities' laxity.
Many owners, instead of spending money on factories in the industrial areas, search rented floors in residential buildings situated in unauthorised colonies. Atul Garg, Director, Delhi Fire Services, said: "Running factories inside the residential buildings is completely illegal. Owners avoid industrial areas for setting up a factory as it can cost them more." Reportedly, at least 2,800 factories are running from residential buildings without proper paperwork in North Delhi.
People from thickly populated states migrate to Delhi in search of jobs. Delhi factory owners employ them as labourers and they are given minimum wages. These labourers are locked inside the illegal factories. Afsad, a native of Bihar died in the Anaj Mandi fire on Sunday. His relative Mohammad Saddam said: "Afsad was getting Rs 7,000 and used to send money to support his family of more than five."
Local residents living in Delhi have claimed that the factory owners with connivance with the authorities run their factories in residential areas. "Since years, factories are running in the residential area of Anaj Mandi. We suspect that the authorities are helping owners in the illegal business. This connivance needs to be probed," said one of the Anaj Mandi residents.
In August, a meeting was held at the Delhi Police Headquarters (PHQ) in which Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik had directed DCPs of districts and units to clearly brief their beat officers and Station House Officers (SHOs) that strict action will be taken against them if they are found assisting owners of unauthorised constructions.
Another resident from Anaj Mandi area said he has approached multiple enforcement authorities with the issue of factories disturbing normal life by violating regulations and none have acted on his complaints so far. DFS Director Garg said: "The buildings from where major factory fire cases took place in Delhi did not have No-Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by the Fire department." According to DFS, till December 9 of the current year, they received more than 23,000 fire-related calls from various parts of the city.
