A shocking survey has come to light regarding the safety of Paying Guest (PG) in Delhi. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) conducted a survey of 2,453 PG buildings across the city, which revealed that only 31 PGs have NOC i.e. safety certificate from the fire department. This means that almost 99 percent of PGs are running without fire safety clearance.
Moreover, less than 30 per cent of PGs have correct building plans and only 8 buildings have a certificate that their structure is strong and safe. After the Satya Niketan accident on September 6, Delhi High Court reprimanded MCD and ordered an investigation of PGs in the entire city.
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What came out in the survey?
According to a report by The Indian Express, PG properties built in all 12 areas of Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) have been included in this survey. This survey was conducted after the collapse of a 5-storey hostel in Satya Niketan on 6 September. 7 people died in this accident. In this case, Delhi High Court had reprimanded MCD.
The survey revealed that out of 2,453 paying guest PGs in Delhi, only 31 have NOC from the fire department. Moreover, less than 30 per cent have approved building plans. Only 8 buildings have structural stability certificate. Of the 2,453 PGs surveyed, only 726 have approved building plans. The situation is even clearer in some major student areas of Delhi.
The survey revealed that there are 608 PGs in the Civil Lines area of North Campus of Delhi University. Of these, 364 have approved building plans, 28 have fire NOC and 27 have regularization approval. In the survey, none of the PGs had a certificate of strength of the building.
No PG has occupancy certificate
Furthermore, there are 410 PGs in Keshav Puram. Of these, only 54 have approved building plans and only 2 PGs have fire NOC and 2 have building strength certificate. At the same time, no PG has an occupancy certificate (which certifies that the building has been constructed as per the approved plans and rules and whether it is safe and suitable for living or not).
The situation is even worse in the areas of South Delhi. Includes the South Campus of Delhi University, IIT Delhi and areas around Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). None of the 390 PGs surveyed here had Delhi Fire Service approval, building strength certificate, approved building plan or occupancy certificate.
According to MCD rules, the building plan of any PG must follow the Master Plan of Delhi and building rules. Fire NOC tells whether the necessary fire safety rules have been followed for the safety of the people living in the building or not.