At a time when Delhi Government has cancelled the No Objection Certificates (NoC) in Capital’s Karol Bagh area, North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) has also suspended health licences of 30 establishments.
Notably, Delhi Government cancelled fire safety certificates of 71 hotels in Karol Bagh.
A senior corporation official said that the probe team constituted to ascertain the lapses in the deadly fire incident at Hotel Arpit Palace in which 17 people were killed, has found that violation of fire safety norms seemed to be the main factor behind the tragedy. "We have received a list of 57 such hotels, and health licences of 30 of such establishments have been suspended," he said.
The investigation report has been submitted by the committee which was formed to probe the lapses, he said, adding that more such action will be taken after analysing it.
As per the report, the fire was triggered by a short circuit in an air-conditioner on the second floor of the building, he said.
Hitting out at Delhi Government, he said that the government is only cancelling fire safety certificates of these establishments but they should also take action against those who gave clearance despite various shortcomings, he added.
In past few days, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government had cancelled fire safety certificates of business establishments for various violations in Karol Bagh, where a massive fire at a hotel recently killed 17 people, and ordered their closure. The Government had issued also instructions to municipal corporations and police asking them to seal these establishments in the wake of violations of fire safety norms.
Health trade licences issued by the civic bodies for granting permission to trade in particular items and services that have a direct effect on public health. The municipal corporations before awarding licence ensure that the hotels, restaurants or any other establishment comply with hygiene and security standards.
According to section 417 OF Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act, 1957, it is mandatory for all traders, establishments to obtain trade licence.
The national Capital has witnessed one after another such cases in last few days but instead of doing detailed security audit of all the budget hotels that have proliferated in Karol Bagh, Rajinder Nagar, Nabi Karim, Paharganj, Jama Masijd area in highly congested Central district, Corporation officials are busy in passing the buck on each other.
According to sources in Fire Department, only around 25 percent restaurants and hotels in Delhi have the mandatory NOC (No Objection Certificate) from Fire Department and only 1540 guest house are so far registered with Delhi Fire Services that possess NOC.