No fire safety audit of buildings in Mohali

The municipal corporation (MC) has never conducted a fire audit of buildings and does not have any record of safety measures taken by owners.

Taking cognizance of recent fire incidents, MC commissioner Sandeep Hans has marked an inquiry to chief fire officer (CFO) and joint commissioner Avneet Kaur to get the fire audit conducted of commercial, industrial and even residential buildings in the city.

Hans said the chief fire officer has also been instructed to get dangerous and offensive (DOT) trade licences checked. He said, “I have been told that there are very few traders who have procured DOT licences. I have directed the officer to find out the number of traders who have not procured the DOT licences. Notices will be sent and action taken.”

He said according to the DOT gazette notification of 2007, apart from paints, varnishes and petroleum products storage, traders selling and storing furniture, tobacco, electronic goods, paper, thermocol, vegetable oils, books, silk clothes, printing press and bakery items are required to procure DOT licences.

The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (Gmada), government press, civil hospital, Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) and Government College, Phase VI, have not taken fire NOC from the MC, according to records.

Hans said, “During the recent fire at the basement of an electronics warehouse in Phase VII market on May 3, it was observed that the building did not have a no objection certificate related to fire safety norms and firefighting equipment. We then learnt that the MC has never got fire audit conducted. I have now marked an inquiry.”