4,500 buildings in national capital got fire NOCs in last two years
New Delhi: Since 2017, as many as 4,500 buildings in the National Capital have received no objection certificates from Delhi Fire Services (DFS). Before giving NOC, a thorough checking is conducted to know whether the structure is following proper fire safety norms, according to the fire department.
The DFS data accessed by Millennium Post claimed that in the year 2017, around 1,883 buildings were given fire NOC whereas, in the current year, 2,618 different types of structures including residential, educational buildings got no objection certificates. Chief Fire Officer (DFS) Atul Garg told Millennium Post that proper inspection is carried out. "After making sure that the building is following all fire safety norms, DFS gives NOC," said Atul Garg.
The fire department claimed that in case of buildings notified under the Delhi Fire Service Act, a questionnaire has to be filled and submitted by the architect along with the plans.
"Industrial and storage buildings having covered area on all floors more than 250 square meters, educational and institutional buildings having height more than nine meters or having ground plus two upper stories including a mezzanine floor need fire NOCs. Hotels and guest houses having height of more than 12 meters and residential buildings having height of more than 15 meters having ground plus four upper stories including mezzanine floor require fire NOCs," claimed fire officer. In the year 2018, DFS received 19,083 calls till October regarding different incidents including fire, house collapse, sewer deaths and road accidents, which claimed 178 lives and 1,012 people were seriously injured. Last year, the fire department received overall more than 29,000 calls of different incidents, wherein 1,767 persons were injured and 318 died. In many fire-related cases, it has been found that the buildings where the incident took place had no NOC and were functioning in residential areas, risking the lives of not only the workers but also residents. One such case happened on November 19, where four persons were killed after a fire broke out inside the factory which was running illegally in Karol Bagh.
As per the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) website, the national capital with its ever-increasing population in far-flung colonies, crowded localities and unplanned growth has always been a city with heavy fire risk. The risk has now been further increased with the expansion of industries and construction of high-rise buildings in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
