Nearly 1,000 highrise buildings in the national capital are flouting fire safety norms, an increase of more than 35 per cent over the figure last year.
“Out of a total of 2,376 highrise buildings, NOC (no objection certificate) has been issued to around 527 as of now. 996 are flouting fire safety norm,” a senior official in fire service told this newspaper on condition of anonymity. He said, “The rest of the buildings have either just applied for NOC clearance or are in the initial stages of the process. Some have been converted into lowrise buildings and a couple have been sealed by MCD, DDA or NDMC.”
These buildings that are not following fire safety norms are in Amrit Puri, Tughlakabad extension, Kalkaji, Safdarjung Development Area, Munirka, Ber Sarai, Govindpuri extension, Lajpat Nagar, Malviya Nagar, Sadar Bazar and Chandni Chowk areas in the city among others.
In 2010, notices were issued to 718 highrise buildings for violating or not following fire safety norms, while 215 others were re-notified after they failed to take any action on previous notices. On being asked as to what action was taken against them after the issuance of notices, the official said, “We have cut water and electricity connections of many buildings that violated the norms and the supply will not be reinstalled if they do not put these measures in order”.