Delhi HC asks for high-rise fire safety report

New Delhi, Nov 30 The Delhi High Court Friday asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to file a status report within six weeks on the lack of fire safety measures in over 600 high-rise buildings in the capital.

A division bench of Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice Veena Birbal after considering a report of the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) that revealed 688 commercial building in the capital lacked minimum fire safety measures, passed the directions for the civic agency.

According to the report, 2,337 commercial complexes in the city were either ill-equipped or lacked fire-fighting measures.

Of these, 688 building owners were said to have asserted that they were under no obligation to install fire-fighting equipments on their premises as the height of their buildings did not exceed 15 meters.

The fire department said, with a view to resolve the dispute, it has now asked the MCD to ascertain the height of these buildings.

On being informed that the response from the MCD was awaited, the court said, "Why do you seek help from the MCD, as you can do this exercise on your own".

Counsel for the DFS then said the various sanctions regarding the constructions were granted by the MCD and hence only the civic agency was empowered to carry out the exercise. This prompted the court to issue directions to the MCD in this regard.

Around 450 building owners had decreased the height of their building below 15 meters, the fire department said.