Fire safety norm violations: Nine CP restaurants may face action

New Delhi: As many as nine restaurants in Central Delhi's Connaught Place may lose their licences for violation of fire safety norms.

The move comes following the fire incident in a Mumbai pub on December 29, which claimed 14 lives, sparking off safety concerns at eateries and restaurants in the national Capital, as only around 400 of them have no objection certificates (NOC) from the Delhi Fire Service.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had already issued show-cause notices to these restaurants in this regard.

Notably, the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), after conducting an inspection of restaurants earlier, has sent notices to nine restaurants.

According to norms, eateries with a seating capacity of less than 50 do not need an NOC from police and fire departments.

"We had conducted inspection of all restaurants in Connaught Place and identified nine of them which have been violating fire safety norms. Show-cause notices have been issued to them and they may lose their licence if norms are not complied with," a senior NDMC official said.

The official, however, did not reveal the names of the restaurants, saying, "We are not making their names public at this stage, till we receive their replies."

The civic body had last week warned traders associations in its area to ensure that restaurants operating in its area abide by trade licence conditions, fire safety norms and comply with sitting capacity conditions or face cancellation of their permits and sealing of their premises.

Regarding fire safety, both DFS and Delhi Police had conducted the safety audit of restaurants and other eateries and recently they held a meeting with the owners.