In the aftermath of the massive fire in Hotel Arpit Palace at Karil Bagh,Delhi that claimed 17 lives, Delhi government has cancelled fire safety licences of 30 establishments in the vicinity in last two days for various violations.The government has also instructed the fire safety department to inspect all hotels in Delhi to check if the safety norms are being followed.
Authorities have claimed that there were serious violations of norms in the hotels whose licenses have been cancelled and they would be sealed.
The NOC was granted to 45 hotels in Karol Bagh and nearby areas out of which 30 were found violated the rules and their fire safety certificates have been cancelled. Delhi Cabinet Minister Satyendra Jain has also issued a notice to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi regarding this matter.
Minister said that the fire department will strengthen its drive against errant hotels throughout the city to check recurrence of Karol Bagh-like incident in the future.
Mr Jain told reporters that in the last two days, 45 hotels were inspected by department officials in Karol Bagh and thirty were found to be violating rules and their fire safety certificates were cancelled.
Shardendu Goel, the owner of Arpit Palace Hotel and the licensee are still on the run. Reacting to this, Jain told media that it is shocking that the owner of the hotel has still absconding. He alleged that the owner probably belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party and that is the reason he has not been arrested.
Safety lapses such as the construction of a kitchen at the top floor of the building are said to have caused the huge fire. The fire claimed the lives of 17 people including a child and injured as many as 11. Call for help was also made to the fire department 45 minutes after the building caught fire.
To counter these lapses, Jain also said that the government is planning to change the existing norms, not only for the safety of the hotel but all other buildings. He added that these changes would be introduced in a week’s time.
