Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation body set to seal 17 highrises today

AHMEDABAD: Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation on Monday informed Gujarat high court that it is to seal 16 high-rise buildings, including those in commercial and semi-commercial use, on Tuesday.
These buildings do not have valid NOCs from the fire department. They were issued notices two days ago and because of their failure to produce the NOCs, they will be sealed.
The civic body also informed the HC that after issuing notices to buildings that do not follow fire safety norms, their names will be published on its website and a public notice will also be issued in newspapers.
Meanwhile, the civic body has already prepared a timetable to take action against 207 commercial and semi-commercial buildings in the city that do not have a valid fire NOC. These buildings will get only three days' time to either install fire systems or obtain an NOC from the fire department. In default, they will be sealed.
As AMC promised action against these buildings on September 22, it has already initiated action against them by issuing notices to 16 in the first phase. This process will be end by December 15, AMC said on affidavit.
Further hearing on this issue shall be on September 29.
The high court is hearing a contempt of court petition filed by one Prakash Nambiar through advocate Amit Panchal. This is because the HC directions for implementation of fire safety laws were not followed. Since 1998, the court has time and again insisted that the civic body make people follow fire safety norms.