20211120 Navi Mumbai: NMMC to probe irregularities in Merchants Centre after fire incident
India Nov 20 2021 “Building” “Stores”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Navi Mumbai: NMMC to probe irregularities in Merchants Centre after fire incident
Updated: 2021-11-20
Merchants Centre building complex at Vashi Sector 19A in Navi Mumbai.
NAVI MUMBAI: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) will formally inquire into certain irregularities in the Merchants Centre building complex at Vashi Sector 19A, following the fire incident at the building on Wednesday.
City based activist Sanchu Menon, who has been complaining about irregularities at the Merchants Centre, said: For the past four years I have urged the civic body to act on irregularities inside the building; such as illegally converting parking spaces into shops, wrong use of the art gallery on the second floor, besides setting up of godowns within the building, which results in potential fire hazard. After the latest fire incident, hopefully NMMC will thoroughly probe all the irregularities.”
“I have asked the fire department to inquire into all the irregularities in the building, as alleged by activists, such as misuse of parking areas etc. After the inquiry, action can be taken on whosoever is held accountable,” said NMMC commissioner Abhijit Bangar
Activists have pointed that there are supposed to be 72 car parking slots in the building complex, but they have been converted for commercial use.
“During a previous fire incident at Merchants Centre, it was found that the proper fire fighting equipment was absent. The civic officials must seriously look into all these issues,” said Menon.
The NMMC head of fire department, S Aradwad, said: “I have asked the fire officials concerned to prepare a comprehensive report on the cause of latest fire at Merchants Centre, and what irregularities have been found at the complex.”
“If necessary, action should also be taken on local civic officials if they have willingly ignored the prevailing irregularities at the building site. Due to lack of real parking here, this area is also congested, which causes traffic jams especially in the evening hours,” said RTI activist Anarjit Chouhan.
Web Source: The Times of India