Traders had licence but no fire NOCs: KMC

Kolkata: The role of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has come under scanner in the wake of the inferno at Bagree Market.

As per records of the License department of the KMC, the civic body had issued Certificate of Enlistment (CE) popularly known as trade licence to 35 markets in the city including Bagree Market though they did not have the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the state Fire department. A high-power meeting chaired by Mayor Sovan Chatterjee who is also the state Fire and Emergency Services minister on July 31 had cleared the trade licences. Notices were served to these markets directing them to ensure strict compliance of the fire safety measures. The meeting was attended by officials of the CESC, Kolkata Police and the state Fire department.

"They were granted CE on the condition that they would have to take the NOC from the Fire department at the earliest after meeting the fire safety measures. The KMC, Fire department, CESC or the Kolkata Police shall not be held responsible for fire hazards in these buildings and the owners/traders/trade association will be held liable," a senior KMC official said.

The 35 buildings that were granted trade licence by the KMC includes markets like Karnani Mansion, Queens Mansion, Mehta Building, Chandni Chowk market, Kamalalay Centre, Shyam Market, Teriti Market, Jain Katra, Manohar Das Katra to name a few. A number of these markets are located in Burrabazar and its adjacent areas are densely populated due to which the firemen experience a daunting task whenever there is any incident of fire.

The trade licences of two markets — one located at 34 Armenian Street and another named Tarparia House at Strand Road — could not be released and eventually could not be given fire NOCs.

"A number of buildings were given recommendations long time back by the committee to have the fire safety measures in place and they were informed that all support would be extended in this regard. But this market did nothing and just sat silent," Mayor Sovan Chatterjee said.