Only 5-10% factories have fire NOC, claims DFS

New Delhi: Delhi Fire Services (DFS) on Wednesday claimed that only a few factories have been issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire department, while most factories in the Capital are risking the lives of workers and other residents.

The DFS has noticed that some factories function in residential areas, risking the lives of not only the workers but also residents.

"Hardly five to 10 per cent of factories must be having proper NOC. Most factories, who do business with foreign countries, need NOC because foreign companies ask for fire NOCs," said Atul Garg, Chief Fire Officer, DFS.

Garg added that in most cases, fire tenders face obstacles in reaching the location of the fire, as the factories are situated in congested areas and function illegally.

"The reason behind the violation is that factory owners do not want to go through the process of getting NOC. Due to this, several people work under great threat," Garg said.

To add to its woes, the fire department is facing serious staff crunch, working with only 40 per cent staff, including 1,000 firefighters and 800 other staff.

DFS also makes sure that the staff do not take leave in May, June and July.

"Our staff know that in these three months, there are more cases of fire than in any other month. So, they make sure that they are available for the work," said Garg.

Materials used for constructions of JJ clusters are highly combustible and produce toxic gases when set afire.

By the time the affected JJ clusters can inform the fire brigade, hundreds of shanties get involved because of the type of material used for their construction.

Unsystematic layout leads to the entire area getting gutted in a very short period of time.

Wind speeds can also play a havoc in such situations.

"Improper wiring, use of gas cylinders inside the camps made of combustible substance in summer lead to the fire," said a fire official.

He further said that in JJ clusters, supply of electricity should be through underground cables and business activities should be prevented in such areas.