BMC to launch inspection drive to check basements

Right after the Kamala Mills blaze, the ward officer was told to check the basement of Trade House. File pic for representation

In the wake of the series of fire major incidents across the city, the BMC has decided to launch a massive inspection drive to check if basements are being used to stock combustible substances or being rented out to businesses. Sources in the BMC said that special teams will be formed to initiation the inspections, which will begin this month.

The move follows the fire incident at the Kamala Mills compound, in which 14 people were killed and over people 30 injured. Also, on January 5, it was a close shave for nearly 52 families as a fire broke out inside the basement of Zia Apartment near City Center Mall in Mumbai Central. According to sources, around 10 residents sustained minor injuries while rushing out of the narrow entrance of the residential building.

Speaking to mid-day, a senior BMC official said, "Right after the Kamala Mills blaze, the ward officer was told to check the basement of Trade House to find out if any combustible substance was stored there. But now, we have decided to check the basements of all establishments. Basements are supposed to be used only for parking. No person is allowed to build bank lockers inside it or use that space for keeping storage tanks or even non-combustible materials."

BMC sources, out for a preliminary inspection recently, were shocked to find gross violation of the basement permissions as they came across several restaurants and eateries operating out of spaces allotted for parking. The official said, "Special teams will be formed across 34 fire stations for the inspections. The BMC chief has instructed civic officials to follow Section 8 (1) of the Fire Act, which allows officials to seal establishments that have flouted rules, especially those pertaining to fire safety." Civic chief Ajoy Mehta confirmed the move to act against erring establishments.

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