RAJKOT: Days after three deliverymen died in a residential building fire, the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) once again launched an aggressive drive against establishments that have not obtained a fire NOC.
A similar drive was initiated after the TRP Game Zone fire of May last year, which snuffed out 27 lives. However, the campaign lost steam after a few months.
In the fresh drive, fire department teams examined 180 high-rise commercial and residential buildings and issued notices regarding fire NOC to 144 since Monday. The department has told the administrators of the buildings to maintain fire safety and keep firefighting equipment updated to tackle any eventuality.
On the day of Dhuleti, a major fire erupted in a 12-storey residential building Atlantis on the posh 150-ft Ring Road.
The fire broke out on the sixth floor of the Atlantis building whose society administrators had not renewed their fire NOC for a decade despite two notices from the civic body.
Three deliverymen, Ajay Makwana (31), Kalpesh Leva (29), and his cousin Mayur Leva (27 suffocated to death as they took the staircase to reach the floor. The building administrators had not renewed the fire NOC since 2015. However, the FIR is yet to be be lodged in the case with the police awaiting forensic and other reports.
Meanwhile, the general board of the RMC met on Wednesday but the opposition Congress’ repeated demands to discuss the fire tragedy was rejected by the mayor.
The discussion was sidestepped, and the board instead focused on RMC’s success in tackling mosquito infestations along the banks of the Aji River.
Opposition leader Vashram Sagathiya arrived at the meeting carrying a fire extinguisher as a symbolic protest. He even used it outside the RMC premises but was prevented from bringing it inside. When the opposition persisted with their demand, the mayor dismissed the request, insisting that discussions would proceed strictly as per the listed agenda.
As the meeting commenced, the first question raised was by a BJP corporator regarding the health department’s initiatives. In response, deputy municipal commissioner C K. Nandani spoke at length, detailing the severity of the mosquito menace near the Aji River and the health risks it posed to residents. He elaborated on the advanced machinery used by RMC to eradicate mosquitoes, bringing an end to the question hour.
Six other proposals were also cleared by the general board.
