New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has launched an investigation into possible building bylaw violations following a massive fire at a four-storey residential building in Vivek Vihar that claimed nine lives on Sunday morning.
"Officials have visited the site. We are looking into the matter and will take strict action against erring officials if any violation or irregularities are found in the approval of the building plan," said Mayor Pravesh Wahi.
According to officials, grills covering the entire rear side of the building severely hampered rescue operations and defeated the purpose of open balconies mandated in the Unified Building Bylaws 2016. "These areas must remain unenclosed, to be exempted from floor area ratio (FAR) calculations, and are primarily for functional, open-air use," said an official.
Wahi urged residents to adopt safer construction practices. "The rear side was completely covered with grills, from the ground floor to the terrace, which obstructed escape during the fire. Though the building bylaws do not specifically mention installation of grills, these become permanent structures. Ideally, such additions should be avoided, or adequate open spaces must be provided for emergency evacuation and rescue access," he said.
Noting that the terrace was locked, he appealed to residents to ensure unrestricted access for all families to such spaces during emergencies. The building at Vivek Vihar lacked proper emergency exits and had only one central staircase, which was filled with smoke.
Sources said the probe will also examine whether the number of dwelling units exceeded the permissible limit for the 650-square-meter plot. While only six units were allowed as per norms, eight units had been constructed.
Under existing norms, building plans for plots above 500 square meters are sanctioned by the MCD headquarters. Officials said with an FAR of 225 applicable to such plots, six dwelling units are generally permissible.
"Initial findings show the building plan was sanctioned in September 2013," said the official. However, MCD officials could not verify how many units were approved in the sanctioned plan and whether a completion certificate was ever issued.
Authorities are examining whether the building's single staircase met prescribed norms. "Generally, a single staircase is permissible for residential buildings. As per UBBL 2016, the minimum clear staircase width for low-rise residential buildings is typically 0.9 meters, though specifications may vary," said the official.
An advisory might be issued to the public to adhere to sanctioned building plans for safety, he said, adding, "In some instances, people make changes even after approval of completion certificate."
