Nagpur: More than two months after a major fire exposed alleged building and fire safety violations at Ashish NX garment showroom in Mahal, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Friday initiated proceedings to seal portions of the premises for allegedly being used in violation of sanctioned building plans.“We put a notice under Section 56(1) of Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, 1966, on the building, directing the owner to discontinue the unauthorised use or face further action, including sealing and prosecution,” assistant municipal commissioner (Gandhibagh zone) Ghyanshyam Pendhare told TOI. The notice grants the owner an opportunity to comply before coercive action is taken.According to the notice, the property at Gandhi Gate, Mahal, was originally granted permission as a residential building. However, civic authorities found that the premises were being used for commercial purposes without obtaining mandatory change-of-use permission from the planning authority.The notice, addressed to the owner, states that the sanctioned plan approved in April 2010 permitted residential use, but inspections revealed that all four floors were being used for commercial purposes. The notice also records an unauthorised built-up area of 65.10 square metres each on the ground, first, second and third floors.The action follows the devastating fire that engulfed the multi-storey clothing showroom on May 30. The blaze, which required an extensive firefighting operation, triggered a probe by Fire Department. The investigation reportedly found multiple violations, including the alleged merger of residential structures into a single commercial establishment without statutory approvals and deficiencies in fire safety compliance.1,200 BUILDINGS VIOLATE FIRE SAFETY NORMS, 1,400 YET TO OBTAIN NOCNMC’s Fire and Emergency Services Committee on Friday directed officials to initiate action against high-rise buildings, schools and hospitals that have failed to install mandatory fire safety systems. Committee chairperson Rupali Thakur said notices should be issued, followed by action against violators.Officials informed the committee that nearly 1,200 buildings are violating fire safety norms, while around 1,400 buildings are yet to obtain mandatory No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the fire department.
