Maiden meeting of DPC at Niyojan Bhavan today

 

Niyojan Bhavan that had been awaiting formal inauguration, is the brainchild of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. A meeting of District Planning Committee (DPC) is scheduled here before Assembly election on August 2. The Ground-2 building is located in the Civil Lines area, at the erstwhile Panchayat Samiti office. During his stint as Chief Minister, Fadnavis had sanctioned the proposal from District Collector for a DPC building so that all meetings could be held here in a proper environment. Now, a supervisory committee has also been constituted by the MahaYuti Government for scrutinising proposals that are forwarded to the DPC. So, the Niyojan Bhavan would be quite useful in future.

 

Niyojan Bhavan, the swanky new building for District Planning Committee (DPC), is set for inauguration on Friday sans mandatory clearance from Fire and Emergency Department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). The Bhavan is set to host maiden meet of DPC to be chaired by Deputy Chief Minister and Guardian Minister Devendra Fadnavis post its formal inauguration. As per rules, any new multistoried building requires mandatory occupancy certificate along with No Objection Certificate (NOC) for fire installations and the fire exits. The Public Works Department (PWD) that constructed the Niyojan Bhavan woke-up to realisation about NOC from Fire Department on eve of its inauguration. The building was ready since last few months and one wonder why PWD officials waited so long to seek mandatory clearances. Till filing of the report, Fire Department did not accord its NOC to PWD's application as same was in contravention of laid down rules.

 

As per sources, the agency nominated by PWD approached Fire Department on Friday for NOC to Niyojan Bhavan. For Fire Department officials it was a shocker since this was first time anyone had come for NOC directly whereas the rules state that the move comes post querry from Town Planning Department of NMC. A builder or agnecy first applies to Town Planning seeking occupancy certificate and before that NOC from Fire Department is sought. For the same, Town Planning forwards the file for occupancy certificate with a covering letter. Only after green signal from Fire Department further clearences are accorded.

 

Though PWD officials made a last minute dash for NOC from Fire Department, same was not fruitful as latter referred to rules. So the Niyojan Bhavan is readied by PWD for the maiden meet of DPC. As per information with The Hitavada, the PWD-appointed agency sought NOC from NMC’s Fire and Emergency Department on Thursday, a day before the first meeting at the place. It is learnt the officials of Fire Department turned back the agency stating that the application was not as per the prescribed laid-down norms. The officials also issued notice to the agency as to why its licence should not be suspended for not knowing the rules for seeking fire NOC, it is learnt from sources. Prior to providing NOC, the developer of new building has to submit necessary documents as to affixing of necessary and compulsory fire fighting equipment. Also the applicant also lists the fire fighting arrangements in place in the building. Post application, the Fire Department team goes for spot inspection of new buildings to satisfy that all the necessary fire fighting equipments are properly in place.

 

Also the equipments have to be as per laid-down specifications. It's strange that PWD which is an apex agency in the State is oblivious of rules. Niyojan Bhavan is a three-storeyed building meant exclusively to house Planning Department and for holding regular meets of DPC. Normally, DPC meets are held at either Bachat Bhavan in Collectorate compound and a full-fledged meet chaired by Guardian Minister is held at Deshpande Hall. When ‘The Hitavada’ contacted Abhijeet Kuchewar, Executive Engineer, PWD, Division No. 1, Nagpur, to ascertain the facts he claimed that there was no requirement for buildings having height of 15 to below 24 meters. Since Niyojan Bhavan is having less that 24 meters height as per rules there is no need for clearance from Fire Department of Local Self Government authority, he claimed.

 

He, however, admitted that the PWD did apply for NOC as it was unaware of the rules. Kuchewar also claimed that PWD has got the mandatory occupancy certificate from Town Planning, NMC. When Kuchewar was further pressed for clarification he said the matter should be clarified from Electrical Wing of PWD. B P Chandankhede, Chief Fire Officer (CFO), NMC, was firm that rules are same for all and there cannot be any two sets of norms, one for commoners and other for Government Department. On the contrary, as per UDCPR rules only, building having height of 15 to 24 meters do require NOC from Fire Department. And if PWD officials are clear about non requirement of NoC, then CFO wondered why all the builders are approaching Fire Department for clearances.