The issuance of Fire No Objection Certificates (NOCs) in Delhi has been suspended since August 24 due to delays in appointing third-party agencies authorized to issue Fire Safety Certificates. Delhi Fire Service Chief Officer AK Malik stated that no agency has been empaneled yet under the government’s deregulation guidelines.
Malik explained that the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) rules were amended in May to transfer responsibility for issuing and renewing fire safety certificates to third parties under Rules 35 and 37, effective 90 days after the amendment. However, despite issuing notices twice inviting applications for empanelment, the response was limited, with no applicants meeting the required criteria.
“Fire NOCs have not been issued since 24 August because, under the government’s deregulation guidelines, third parties were to be engaged to issue Fire Safety Certificates. The DFS Rules were amended in May, giving third parties responsibility for issuing and renewing these certificates under Rules 35 and 37, effective after 90 days,” Malik said.
He added, “During this period, notices were issued twice to empanel third parties, but there were very few applications, and none met the required criteria. As a result, no third party has been empaneled so far.”
Earlier in June, Malik noted that dry conditions and higher temperatures generally increase fire risks during summer in North India. He pointed out that the number of fire-related incidents recorded in Delhi this summer was significantly higher than last year, and despite efforts to increase manpower, controlling the situation remains challenging.
“Every year during the summer season, we see a rise in fire incidents in North India due to dry conditions and soaring temperatures; while the number of calls has increased this time as well, the figure is significantly higher compared to last year,” Malik said.
He warned of a dangerous trend in the increasing death toll, stating: “However, the death toll is higher this year compared to last year’s figures. This is a dangerous trend. If the number of fatalities is rising, we need to rethink our approach.”
To reduce such losses, the fire department has proposed making smoke detectors mandatory in all homes, which Malik said “could reduce fire-related deaths by up to 97% in the event of a fire inside a building.”
“Every year, nearly 100 people lose their lives in fire incidents in Delhi. We have also recommended that necessary modifications—or retrofitting—be carried out in existing buildings over the next three years. The proposal is currently under consideration,” he added.