Lieutenant-Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta chaired a Delhi Disaster Management Authority meeting on Monday to review the enforcement drive against illegal buildings and fire safety violations.
The meeting focused on the ongoing drive and the city’s disaster management preparedness. Lieutenant-Governor Sandhu suggested inducting former Agniveers into the Delhi Fire Services to address staff shortages. He expressed displeasure that the fire department had issued no notices during the drive and directed the Principal Director to act immediately and report to the offices of the Lieutenant-Governor, Chief Minister and Home Minister. Home Minister Ashish Sood and PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh attended the meeting. The authority accepted a proposal from Mr Sood to apply Section 32 of the Delhi Fire Services Act, 2007, to all multi-storey buildings regardless of whether they need a fire safety certificate. At present only buildings taller than 15 metres require a no-objection certificate from the fire services. Lieutenant-Governor Sandhu stressed that enforcement must remain strict yet avoid harassing ordinary residents. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said all agencies must work together as one team with no room for excuses or unused powers.
