NOC issue: Fire Dept told to submit report within 2 days

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 28

The Additional Municipal Commissioner has asked the Fire Department to submit a report within two days after probing the matter of issuance of a no-objection certificate (NOC) to a multiplex on Novelty Chowk.

The MC had earlier asked the Municipal Town Planning (MTP) wing to conduct an inquiry into the NOC issued by it to operate multiplex screens at the shopping mall.

The investigation has been order after SS Sharma, a local RTI activist, filed a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner’s office alleging that the multiplex owner in connivance with MC officials had violated the building bylaws.

The activist alleged that the MTP wing had granted permission to a New Delhi-based multiplex to operate four screens at the Mall. “The NOC granted to the Mall was cancelled in February 2016 after it had encroached upon the adjoining street and for other violations. The Mall owner does not have the NOC issued by the Fire Department. Now, the MC has also filed a complaint that the file pertaining to the case has gone missing. When all this has happened how the MTP wing can overstep its jurisdiction and issue an NOC to run the multiplex screens,” reasoned Sharma, adding that in cases where files were missing only the Principal Secretary of the Local Bodies could issue an NOC.

“As per the building bylaws and fire safety norms, the building should have been open from all sides. We have still not forgotten the Uphaar Cinema tragedy in which many lives were lost. Starting a multiplex with four screens along the busy road without following the proper procedure and ensuring the safety of visitors would mean that we have not learnt any lessons from the past tragedies,” said the activist.

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