Mundka fire: Delhi civic body orders survey in all zones, seeks building plan approval

Following the Mundka and Narela factory fire, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation on Saturday sought from the Narela Zone authorities a detailed report, PTI reported.

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New Delhi: After witnessing the tragic Mundak fire incident and Narela factory blaze, North Delhi Municipal Corporation has pulled up its sleeves and ordered the zonal commissioners to conduct a detailed survey in their areas to find out if any prohibited activity is going on in non-conforming areas to prevent the recurrence of such a tragic incident, PTI reported.

Following the Narela factory fire, which has now been controlled as per the Fire department, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation on Saturday sought from the Narela Zone authorities a detailed report, including the type of area and tentative year of construction, of the building in Mundka where a massive fire broke out claiming at least 27 lives, officials said.

"Notices be issued and relevant punitive action is taken. The exercise must be completed within 10 days and an action-taken report is submitted to the additional commissioner in charge of the factory licensing department," according to the order issued by the NDMC authorities.

NDMC Commissioner Sanjay Goel has asked the local civic authorities to treat the matter as a "top priority".

Report on Narela factory fire

The details have to be submitted within 48 hours, the communication said, adding it is learnt that the fire broke out reportedly due to a short circuit.

NDMC has asked them to furnish details about the type of area -- whether it was in the category of residential, agricultural or Lal Dora -- where the building is located.

The report would also consist of the tentative year of construction of the building and its height, whether the structure was old or new and if any construction was ongoing, says the communication.

It has also asked if the building plan was sanctioned or not, and if not, the reason thereof. Also, the purpose for which the building was being used, whether it was permissible or not and whether a NOC from the fire department was obtained by the occupier or not.

Details of factory licence, trade licence, conversion charges, property tax or other municipal dues paid or not have been sought.

The NDMC has also sought to know if any show-cause notice or other penal action has been taken in the past for any violation related to the building.

Also whether there was any kind of lapse on the part of any municipal official of the civic body and the recommended action for it, the communication said.

In another order, NDMC authorities said the factory licensing department shall give seven days to factory-owners in conforming or provisional confirming areas to either get a new online factory licence or renew it along with NOC from the fire department and uploaded those on the NDMC portal.

In case of failure in doing so, necessary actions would be taken in a time-bound manner, it said.

According to the order, the exercise must be completed within 15 days.

Delhi Mudka fire tragedy

27 people, including 21 women, have died in the blaze that began on the first floor of the four-storey building on Friday in a commercial building near Delhi’s Mundka Metro station. Nineteen people are still missing and there was little hope of finding survivors.

According to the fire department, the death toll could rise to 30 as charred remains were found in the building during cooling operations on Saturday morning. The 12 injured were undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Meanwhile, the prime accused and absconding building owner Manish Lakra has been arrested by the Delhi police on Sunday.

(With PTI inputs)